Italy - Current situation - History
15.10.2012
Regular services in Italy will start in 2012 in the Trentino region following a decree by AGCOM published in May 2012 assigning one block for national public radio and two blocks for national commercial (12A, 12B and 12C) and additional blocks for local services (12D, 10A, 10B 10C and 10D) .
Currently the Department of Communications is releasing the licenses to the private consortia for the Trentino area .The standard adopted for digital radio receivers in Italy, developed by the Associazione per la Radiofonia Digitale in Italia (ARD) includes WorldDMB Profile 1, FM with RDS, Band III and L Band .
The receiver certification www .arditalia .it was launched in 2010 and has been developed in collaboration with broadcasters, network operators and receiver manufacturers . It allows for receivers certified in Italy to work everywhere in Europe
01.02.2012
After several years of test and trials, digital radio development in Italy is now happening.
The standard adopted for the receivers in Italy (clarified by ARD association Associazione per la Radiofonia Digitale in Italia) includes WorldDMB Profile 1, FM with RDS, Band III and L Band.
The receiver certification has been launched in 2010 and has been developed in collaboration with broadcasters, network operators and receiver manufacturers. It allows for receiver certified in Italy to properly work everywhere in Europe.
Late in 2009, the Council for the Authority of Communications approved regulation setting out steps for the future roll out of digital radio across Italy. Broadcasters can opt for either DAB, DAB+ or DMB and the regulation allows for the migration of services from analogue to digital. It provides clear regulation on coverage, networks for national services, spectrum allocation for services, local coverage and rules on simulcasting and new content.
There will be one national network for the public broadcaster, RAI, and two national networks for commercial radio. Space will be available for local radio stations and the network operator will be given additional capacity to provide data services.
09.03.2011
After several years of test and trials, digital radio development in Italy is now happening very fast. The standard adopted for the receivers in Italy (clarified by ARD association Associazione per la Radiofonia Digitale in Italia) as mandatory is : FM RDS; DAB+ DMB-R band L & band III.
Late in 2009, the Council for the Authority of Communications approved regulation setting out steps for the future roll out of digital radio across Italy. Broadcasters can opt for either DAB, DAB+ or DMB and the regulation allows for the migration of services from analogue to digital. It provides clear regulation on coverage, networks for national services, spectrum allocation for services, local coverage and rules on simulcasting and new content.
There will be one national network for the public broadcaster, RAI, and two national networks for commercial radio. Space will be available for local radio stations and the network operator will be given additional capacity to provide data services.
Around 75% of Italy's population can currently receive digital radio broadcasts via several trial multiplexes currently on air. A joint project between the commercial and public radio stations Club DAB Italia, EuroDAB and Raiway plans the launch of pilot services covering Rome, Torino, Naples and Cagliari in late 2010. The project will be extended to cover 50% of the population by 2012 following the switch off of analogue TV and focus on major urban areas and motorways.
There are currently 13 multiplexes on air in Italy with a mix of national and regional coverage. Between them, they deliver more than 100 services, with around half being digital only.