Ireland - Current situation - History
19.01.2008
A DAB digital radio trial began in March 2007 with 11 stations, six existing national stations and five Dublin stations. This trial covered the Greater Dublin and North East area with coverage of approximately 36% of Ireland’s population. This development has been led by RTÉ in cooperation with digitalRadio.ie, a new industry group set up to explore the development and promotion of digital radio in Ireland. The members of this group are: 98FM, Digital Audio Productions, FM104, Newstalk 106-108 FM, Phantom 105.2, Q102, RTÉ Radio, SPIN 1038 and Today FM. The eventual aim is to invite all Irish broadcasters to join digitalRadio.ie and through a shared effort by the industry move radio in Ireland forward. Since early June 2007 Ireland’s public service broadcaster, RTÉ, has been broadcasting four new DAB-only stations as part of the trial, with two more to come. RTÉ has also been working closely with distributors and retailers to promote DAB digital radio. RTÉ conducted trials of DAB IP in 2006, however, no service is yet planned.
RTÉ intend to hold DMB and music download trials in 2008.