France - Current situation - History
09.08.2018
The website DABplus.fr was set up to summarise the deployment of DAB+ in France. It is paid by and for stakeholders of DAB+ in France. www.DABplus.fr
The CSA announced in December 2017 a new strategy to accelerate the deployment of DAB+. Following consultation, the CSA decided to revise the modalities and the schedule of calls for candidacy to allocate frequencies of radio diffusion in DAB+. Three major calls for applications are now planned: the first two, in July 2018 and at the latest in July 2019, will each focus on "fifteen zones centered on agglomerations of more than 175,000 inhabitants" and with a small number of local areas. The third call was announched in July 2018 and concerns frequencies at the national level. The less populated areas will be covered in a second phase after 2020.
National Coverage
The French broadcast regulator the Conseil Superieur de l’audiovisuel has launched a call for DAB+ applications at the national level for the first time, with the initial focus on developing services in the metropolitan regions of Brittany and Corsica and its surrounding highways. The tender is aimed at only national radio stations, and requires 90% of the motorway network to be covered within eight years, as well as 80% of Brittany, and 80% of Corsica’s territorial routes and 75% of its metropolitan population. The final date for submissions is 21 November 2018.
Following Paris, Nice and Marseille, Strasbourg, Lyon and Lille started to broadcast DAB+ in 2017, including services from Radio France (FIP and Mouv’) and RFI (Radio France International). Coverage proposals for Rouen, Toulouse and Nantes have been presented by the regulator to the radio editors.
Digital radio launched in Paris, Nice and Marseille in 2014. Across the three cities over 100 services are on air - all but one are on DAB+.
Useful documents:
Public consultation prior to the call for Applications NTS No. 3 and impact studies (pdf)
25.06.2018
The website DABplus.fr was set up to summarise the deployment of DAB+ in France. It is paid by and for stakeholders of DAB+ in France. www.DABplus.fr
The CSA announced in December 2017 a new strategy to accelerate the deployment of DAB+. Following consultation, the CSA decided to revise the modalities and the schedule of calls for candidacy to allocate frequencies of radio diffusion in DAB+. Three major calls for applications are now planned: the first two, in July 2018 and at the latest in July 2019, will each focus on "fifteen zones centered on agglomerations of more than 175,000 inhabitants" and with a small number of local areas. The third call, envisaged mid-2018 this time will concern frequencies at the national level. The less populated areas will be covered in a second phase after 2020.
Following Paris, Nice and Marseille, Strasbourg, Lyon and Lille started to broadcast DAB+ in 2017, including services from Radio France (FIP and Mouv’) and RFI (Radio France International). Coverage proposals for Rouen, Toulouse and Nantes have been presented by the regulator to the radio editors.
Digital radio launched in Paris, Nice and Marseille in 2014. Across the three cities over 100 services are on air - all but one are on DAB+.
Useful documents:
Public consultation prior to the call for Applications NTS No. 3 and impact studies (pdf)
22.06.2018
Acceleration of deployment
In July 2017 the Conseil supérieur de l’audiovisuel opened the public consultation on accelerating the local deployment of DAB+ and the modalities of an appeal for metropolitan applications. In order to accelerate the development of DAB+, the CSA has drawn on the lessons of a first assessment after having solicited views through the public consultation. The findings presented include launches during July 2018 and July 2019 to boost DAB+ services in France. More information
The CSA announced in December 2017 a new strategy to accelerate the deployment of DAB+. Following consultation, the CSA decided to revise the modalities and the schedule of calls for candidacy to allocate frequencies of radio diffusion in DAB+. Three major calls for applications are now planned: the first two, in July 2018 and at the latest in July 2019, will each focus on "fifteen zones centered on agglomerations of more than 175,000 inhabitants" and with a small number of local areas. The third call, envisaged mid-2018 this time will concern frequencies at the national level. The less populated areas will be covered in a second phase after 2020.
Following Paris, Nice and Marseille, Strasbourg, Lyon and Lille started to broadcast DAB+ in 2017, including services from Radio France (FIP and Mouv’) and RFI (Radio France International). Coverage proposals for Rouen, Toulouse and Nantes have been presented by the regulator to the radio editors.
Reportage on the ongoing expansion of DAB+ in France [in French].
Current Situation
Digital radio launched in Paris, Nice and Marseille in 2014. Across the three cities over 100 services are on air - all but one are on DAB+.
In January 2015 the CSA published a report outlining its support for digital radio.
In December 2015 the CSA adopted the conclusions from a June 2015 public consultation and defined the timetable it intends to implement to continue the deployment of Digital Broadcast Radio throughout mainland France. This schedule provides for the call-up of more than 40 regional allotments in metropolitan France beyond those of Paris, Marseille and Nice, which have already been the subject of an appeal, and more than a hundred local allotments. The timetable spreads from 2016 to 2023.
Following a June 2016 call for application, 96 radios have been selected for Lille, Lyon and Strasbourg regions. Nantes, Rouen calls for application will happen in H1’2017 with learning from Lille, Lyon and Strasbourg. Toulouse, Bordeaux, Besançon, Orléans and Clermont-Ferrand will follow. All regional allotments are doubled up by local allotments in the same areas.
In order not to jeopardise the possible arrival of players who want a nationwide deployment, the CSA is reserving two national allotments. If required, more local calls for applications will be considered in the future. The CSA announced in January 2017 that they may consider a faster timetable, with a focus on regional multiplexes and high density population areas. Expect also a public consultation on main road coverage.
Trial services have been on air in Lyon and Nantes for several years. 13 stations are on air in Nantes. The trial service in Lyon are stopped as a regular service will be deployed. An additional trial is taking place in Rambouillet with the stated objective to test digital radio in mobility, including a TPEG service and a dedicated automotive application called Carison. Two trials are also on air in Paris: a TPEG trial as well as a new trial in the eastern part of Paris, intended to supplement poor FM reception following request from listeners (the so called “sans radio” group). Radio France's portfolio of radio stations are broadcasting on this trial which is conducted by Towercast since early July 2016.
Useful documents:
Public consultation prior to the call for Applications NTS No. 3 and impact studies (pdf)