France

Last update: 22.09.2023 - older versions

DAB+ : a structural choice for the radio industry

Launched in 2014 in Paris, Nice and Marseille, DAB+ is now seen as critical to contribute to the future of radio and to address the saturation of FM. It is a means to preserve diversity and plurality. As DAB+ is reaching a turning point, the regulator, Arcom, is launching in 2023 a consultation with the radio industry which will include the switchover from FM to DAB+ both in the metropolitan area and overseas. The economics of radio are a key element of the expected white paper, as well as the potential acceleration of the deployment.

Deployment of DAB+

On 12 October 2021, France launched two new national multiplexes broadcasting 26 DAB+ stations, including national services from Radio France, leading private broadcasters and four new national services. The new multiplexes are broadcast along the major motorway corridors of Paris-Lyon-Marseille. The 26 services include four new DAB+ only stations and 22 stations that are also broadcast in FM. Extension to more main roads and highly populated areas is planned for the end of 2023. These 26 radios are in addition to the hundreds of radio stations already available regionally and locally on DAB+

The CSA rollout plan, the so-called "nodes and arcs strategy" described in 2017, which also includes continued regional and local rollouts alongside the launch of national services, was updated in 2021. 

Arcom says that "In total, it is expected that 17 multiplexes, extended or local, will have started broadcasting during the summer of 2023. At the end of these start-ups, the coverage of the metropolitan population by DAB+ will exceed 50%."

French DAB+ Broadcast Networks Factsheet

A new factsheet on DAB+ digital radio in France has been produced for automotive manufacturers, as the country achieves over 50% DAB+ population coverage.

The factsheet from WorldDAB - the global industry forum for DAB digital radio - was produced as part of the work of its Automotive Working Group, in partnership with network operator TDF, and RadioDNS which promotes hybrid radio.   

France DAB+ Broadcast Networks

Receiver legislation

Older pieces of legislation in France related to DAB+ in cars have been superseded by the transposition in November 2020 of the EECC into French legislation. This law passed the last stage and was made official in December 2020, with the transposition of the EECC into French law officially published on 28 May 2021. Domestic receivers, for which the reception function of radio services broadcast is not purely incidental, and have an alphanumeric screen, must be capable of receiving digital terrestrial radio. Discussions are ongoing to make DAB+ mandatory in all receivers. 

Last update: 22.09.2023 - older versions

DAB+ digital terrestrial radio continues to roll out across France. With its arrival in towns such as Bayonne, Besançon, Brest, Clermont-Ferrand, Metz, Nancy and Pau, this summer DAB+ passed the symbolic milestone of covering 50% of the French population. A trial has also been underway in Martinique since January. With the continued roll-out of national antennas between October 2023 and March 2024, more than 60% of the population will be covered by DAB+ by early 2024.

In December 2021, the French media regulator CSA, published an updated DAB+ roadmap highlighting DAB+ developments plans for the 2022-2024 period.

According to the new roadmap, calls for applications will be launched for 50 local allotments in that period of time – these primarily concerned the cities of Dijon, Lyon, Marseille, Rennes, Caen, Nancy, Paris, Bordeaux, Clermont-Ferrand, Poitiers and Toulouse. An overseas trial has also been licensed in Martinique. 

Last update: 22.09.2023 - older versions

In this country there are

on air.

French DAB+ Broadcast Networks Factsheet

A new factsheet on DAB+ digital radio in France has been produced for automotive manufacturers, as the country achieves over 50% DAB+ population coverage.

The factsheet from WorldDAB - the global industry forum for DAB digital radio - was produced as part of the work of its Automotive Working Group, in partnership with network operator TDF, and RadioDNS which promotes hybrid radio.   

France DAB+ Broadcast Networks

 

Please note:

(a)    These web pages are updated regularly to reflect current services on air, however they may not be exactly up to date.

(b)    The logos shown on these pages are for illustrative purposes only – manufacturers and broadcasters are directed here for information on implementing station logos.

An interactive map showing all services currently on air in France, as well as those licensed to go on air, can be found at: Ma radio DAB Plus - CSA - Conseil supérieur de l’audiovisuel.

Simulcast on AM / FM Exclusive on digital Total of services
DAB+ programmes 358 102 460

Last update: 16.02.2022 - older versions

In France, as of H2 2021, 90% of new cars sold are equipped with DAB+ as standard (Source: JATO Dynamics 2022).

Last update: 05.02.2021 - older versions

Receiver legislation 

In December 2018 DAB+ coverage reached 21.3% of the French population, which triggered a law requiring that all radio receivers (including in-car) sold in France be compatible with the broadcasting standards (ie DAB+). This 2018 law was amended in June 2020 to align with the EECC deadline of 20 December 2020.

In November 2020, the French parliament voted in favour of a law to transpose the EECC into French legislation. This law passed the last stage and was made official in December 2020, enabling the government to take a final decree which is expected by early 2021. The decree will confirm that new passenger cars in France will be required to include digital terrestrial radio from 20 December 2020, in line with the EECC. Additional obligations regarding consumer receivers have yet to be agreed and may also be included in that decree enacting the EECC.

More detailed information is in the WorldDAB EECC Factsheet

Last update: 02.10.2018 - older versions

40,000 households in eastern Paris can now receive DAB as part of a test by Towercast. Radio France is broadcasting their portfolio of radio stations on that trial. 

There is one trial local multiplex in East Paris and one trial local multiplex on air in Rambouillet. One of the 5 DAB+ stations on air in Rambouillet are available exclusively via DAB+ digital radio (not on FM).

Several stations offer Slideshow services (SLS).

Last update: 13.06.2022 - older versions

The Regulator (ARCOM - previously CSA) refers to a “Nodes and Arcs” phase of DAB+ rollout bringing DAB+ coverage to the 50 largest cities and to the highways connecting them. The target completion date is end of 2022. Then the so-called “Percolation Phase” will cover the lower density regions.

Four calls for applications are expected by end of 2023 to reach 50 smaller cities and their surrounding areas. From the point of view of enhancing the digital radio experience for consumers, the CSA initiated a forum with French broadcasters to discuss the DAB+ user experience.

DAB+ regulation in France is outlined on the French Media regulator's website here

The 2021 annual report of the CSA / ARCOM which includes substantial information about the deployment of DAB+ in France is available to download here

 

Last update: 05.02.2021 - older versions

DABplus.fr

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

Consumer Marketing

French broadcasters are developing a marketing strategy in preparation for the national launch of DAB+.  The work involves collaboration between all broadcaster groups - Radio France, the large private broadcasters as well as independent radios.  

French regulator extends three 3 DAB+ trials
27.09.2016 - France France
The French regulator (CSA) has authorised the continued broadcast of 7 Radio France radio stations in the East of Paris, until 28 March 2017 as well as the DAB+ trials also happening in the south west of Paris and in Nantes.

(La Letre Pro ) Read more


Head of Radio France in favour of DAB+
21.09.2016 - Radio France WorldDAB Member - France France
The head of Radio France, Mathieu Gallet, said DAB+ could be interesting for broadcasting certain programmes that currently have poor coverage with FM due to limited frequency availability (FIP, Mouv), and possibly also France Musique for better quality of sound : "If the state will support us financially, I have no problem with DAB+".

(Le Monde) Read more


Digital radio growth in major markets in Europe and Asia-Pacific
19.09.2016 - WorldDAB News - France France
Nearly 50 million receivers were sold through the major countries, Germany, Denmark, France, Italy, Norway, the Netherlands, the UK, Switzerland and Australia (48232000). In France, 292,000 DAB+ receivers have been sold into the distribution network.

(Radiodigi.fr) Read more


50 million digital receivers sold in major markets
15.09.2016 - WorldDAB News - France France
WorldDAB publishes its latest market figures, revealing that 50 million receivers have been sold in the major markets across the world. Other statistics include coverage mobility (main road network) and the overall population coverage, sales of receivers, the penetration rate in homes and, for the first time, the number of national stations available on DAB/DAB + made in relation to those available on the FM band.

(La Letrre Pro) Read more


All of France to have DAB+ signal by 2023
06.09.2016 - France France
Better sound (stereo or multichannel), adding or not synchronized data to the audio (scrolling text, images, information, websites), enrichment of radio offering (more stations than FM alone), broadcast cost lower than that of FM. Digital radio broadcasting has several key advantages which play in its favor. And yet France hastens slowly.

(Le Monde) Read more


Radio France stations on DAB+ trial in Paris
06.09.2016 - Radio France WorldDAB Member - France France
Towercast (part of NRJ Group) received the go-ahead from the CSA in June to run a trial broadcast of Radio France stations on DAB+ in the east of Paris. Radio France has given the green light for France Inter, France Info, France Culture, France Musique, France Bleu and Mouv’ to be available on DAB+. This is a turnaround for Radio France who, until now, had been reluctant to broadcast on DAB+ for budgetary reasons. 40,000 households in the region are not covered by FM.

(Satellifax (paywall)) Read more


All of Radio France's stations now available via DAB+ in Paris
01.09.2016 - Radio France WorldDAB Member - France France
DAB+ continues to progress across Europe and now all seven of Radio France's radio stations are available on DAB+ in Paris.

(Crooner FM) Read more


IBC Sneak Peak: Digidia Promotes DAB BI 2.0 Break-In System
01.09.2016 - France France
Digidia will be promoting its new DAB BI 2.0 Break-In system at IBC2016 in Amsterdam. The system features simultaneous management of up to four ensembles, SFN capability and synchronization with a GPS antenna signal as well as automatic following of dynamic multiplex reconfigurations of DAB ensembles.

(Radio World) Read more


70,000 DAB radios sold in the last year in France
25.08.2016 - France France
Over the past 12 months, more than 70,000 DAB receivers were sold in France. This represents an increase in sales of 32% year on year.

(La Lettre Pro) Read more


DAB+ smartphone: LG Stylus 2 on the test bench
09.08.2016 - LG Electronics WorldDAB Member - France France
The LG Stylus 2 is the first smartphone to support DAB+ to appear on the market.The functioning of this LG Stylus 2 is smooth and dozens of stations are available via the DAB+ digital radio tuner.

(Le blog high-tech et telecom) Read more


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Key Information

Status: regular
Population: 65.2 million
Population coverage: Sparkline Graph 54.8%
Services: 460 DAB+
Line-fit automotive sales (cumulative): 6,346,000 devices
New cars with DAB/DAB+ as standard: Sparkline Graph 98%
Total Sales (cumulative): 8,394,000 devices
Penetration by household: Sparkline Graph 13.7%
Last update: 26.02.2024

Useful Links

DAB+ services on air in France
Annuaire des radios Françaises en AM, FM et RNT
Regulator - ARCOM
Call for application for 2 multiplexes covering main roads
DAB+ in France - interactive map
DAB+ regulation in France
dabplus.fr