Italy - Current situation - History
30.01.2018
Budget law 2018-2020 (all radios sold from 2020 to be digitally capable)
Official announcement of Italian law requiring all radio receivers to have digital capability from 1 Jan 2020: http://www.gazzettaufficiale.it/eli/id/2017/12/29/17G00222/sg. Article 1 comma 1044 provides for all radios sold from 2020 to have digital capability (image attached). Budget law number 205 of the 27th of December 2017 was published on the Official Journal number 302 of the 29th of December 2017 entered into force on the 01/01/2018.
RAI (public broadcaster) expands DAB+ offering
In June 2017 the new director of RAI Radio, Roberto Sergio, reinforced the Italian public broadcaster RAI’s commitment to DAB+ rollout in Italy by confirming the launch of five new stations, bringing the total number of RAI radio stations on DAB+ up to 10 (five simulcast and five digital only). The new stations will offer Italian music, classical and opera, concerts and regional news, children's radio, variety and fiction. Discover more here. Download a video which was shown at the press conference here.
Roadmap for DAB+
The Italian Government has committed to a road map for DAB+ development, a key part of this will be a plan for coordinated frequency planning. The majority of band III has to be reserved for DAB+. AGCOM also renewed commitment to putting forward legislation that receivers should have FM and digital capability.
The North-Italian region of South Tyrol will start its FM switch-off in 2017.
AgCom has published resolution 664/09 which is plan of frequencies for local digital radio in 39 specific areas. The date of the consultancy was June 9th. This plan is mentioned in an article in the daily newspaper, La Repubblica. More information is available here.
On December 23rd 2014, Agcom, published the rules for three specific areas to be covered by DAB+ digital radio tranmissions, following Trentino Alto Adige, in the regions of Valle d’Aosta, Torino & Cuneo Province in Piedmont and Umbria. The Italian Ministry of Communication assigned on the 9th of March 2015 the frequency blocks of public, private and local operators for these regions. A further 6% of the italian population will receive DAB+ digital radio tranmissions once the services go on air. More information is available here.
Regular services were launched in December 2012 in the Trentino region following a decree by the Italian regulator, AGCOM. The decree published in May 2012 assigned 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). In 2013 regular broadcasting licences were assigned for the Alto Adige region. The Department of Communications released licences for the Trentino area to the National Operators, 12B to the public broadcaster (RAI) and 12C to private national operator Club DAB Italia. The third National Operator Block 12A was assigned July 21 to EURODAB ITALIA.
Local Radio
Five consortia of local broadcasters are currently on air. Two consortia in Trento received the rights on Band III with Channel 10A assigned to DBTAA and Channel 12D to Digiloc. The rights to Channel 10B and 10D have been assigned to RAS and Channel 10C to DABMedia in Bolzano.
In May 2015, AGCOM announced the public consultation for the definition of the local coverage areas in Italy. AGCOM completed the consultation on 29 July 2015 and published the definition of 39 local areas covering all of Italy, and called for applications in 3 specific areas: Eastern Tuscany (Firenze, Arezzo, Pistoia, Prato, Siena), L’Aquila province, Eastern Sardinia (Cagliari, Nuoro, Ogliastra, Carbonia-Iglesias). Full details on AGCOM website. Roll-out in Tuscany is starting now. The Italian association of local TV and radio broadcasters, Aeranti-Corallo has announced the establishment of two new network operators (Toscana DAB and Radio Digitale Toscana) to boost the dissemination of DAB+ in Florence, Pistoia, Prato, Arezzo and Siena.
FM Switch off
In the Italian region of South Tyrol, network operator RAS started switching off FM services in December 2017. Since 2008 RAS has been transmitting digital radio stations in both DAB and DAB+ standards. Now, 20 years after the birth of digital radio transmission, RAS will completely switch to the transmission in DAB+. This switchover is due to government requirement. At this time RAS is transmitting 13 digital radio stations accoording to DAB+ and another nine stations using the older DAB standard (RAI Südtirol, Bayern 3, BR Klassik, B5 aktuell, Ö1, ORF Radio Tirol, Ö3, FM4, Swiss Jazz). Those 9 stations from january 31st on will be sent according to DAB+ only.
04.01.2018
Budget law 2018-2020 (all radios sold from 2020 to be digitally capable)
Official announcement of Italian law requiring all radio receivers to have digital capability from 1 Jan 2020: http://www.gazzettaufficiale.it/eli/id/2017/12/29/17G00222/sg. Article 1 comma 1044 provides for all radios sold from 2020 to have digital capability (image attached). Budget law number 205 of the 27th of December 2017 was published on the Official Journal number 302 of the 29th of December 2017 entered into force on the 01/01/2018.
RAI (public broadcaster) expands DAB+ offering
In June 2017 the new director of RAI Radio, Roberto Sergio, has reinforced the Italian public broadcaster RAI’s commitment to DAB+ rollout in Italy by confirming the launch of five new stations, bringing the total number of RAI radio stations on DAB+ up to 10 (five simulcast and five digital only). The new stations will offer Italian music, classical and opera, concerts and regional news, children's radio, variety and fiction. Discover more here. Download a video which was shown at the press conference here.
Roadmap for DAB+
The Italian Government has commited to a road map for DAB+ development, a key part of this will be a plan for coordinated frequency planning. The majority of band III has to be reserved for DAB+. AGCOM also renewed commitment to putting forward legislation that receivers should have FM and digital capability.
The North-Italian region of South Tyrol will start its FM switch-off in 2017.
AgCom has published resolution 664/09 which is plan of frequencies for local digital radio in 39 specific areas. The date of the consultancy was June 9th. This plan is mentioned in an article in the daily newspaper, La Repubblica. More information is available here.
On December 23rd 2014, Agcom, published the rules for three specific areas to be covered by DAB+ digital radio tranmissions, following Trentino Alto Adige, in the regions of Valle d’Aosta, Torino & Cuneo Province in Piedmont and Umbria. The Italian Ministry of Communication assigned on the 9th of March 2015 the frequency blocks of public, private and local operators for these regions. A further 6% of the italian population will receive DAB+ digital radio tranmissions once the services go on air. More information is available here.
Regular services were launched in December 2012 in the Trentino region following a decree by the Italian regulator, AGCOM. The decree published in May 2012 assigned 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). In 2013 regular broadcasting licences were assigned for the Alto Adige region. The Department of Communications released licences for the Trentino area to the National Operators, 12B to the public broadcaster (RAI) and 12C to private national operator Club DAB Italia. The third National Operator Block 12A was assigned July 21 to EURODAB ITALIA.
Local Radio
Five consortia of local broadcasters are currently on air. Two consortia in Trento received the rights on Band III with Channel 10A assigned to DBTAA and Channel 12D to Digiloc. The rights to Channel 10B and 10D have been assigned to RAS and Channel 10C to DABMedia in Bolzano.
In May 2015, AGCOM announced the public consultation for the definition of the local coverage areas in Italy. AGCOM completed the consultation on 29 July 2015 and published the definition of 39 local areas covering all of Italy, and called for applications in 3 specific areas: Eastern Tuscany (Firenze, Arezzo, Pistoia, Prato, Siena), L’Aquila province, Eastern Sardinia (Cagliari, Nuoro, Ogliastra, Carbonia-Iglesias). Full details on AGCOM website. Roll-out in Tuscany is starting now. The Italian association of local TV and radio broadcasters, Aeranti-Corallo has announced the establishment of two new network operators (Toscana DAB and Radio Digitale Toscana) to boost the dissemination of DAB+ in Florence, Pistoia, Prato, Arezzo and Siena.
FM Switch off
In the Italian region of South Tyrol, network operator RAS started switching off FM services in December 2017. Since 2008 RAS has been transmitting digital radio stations in both DAB and DAB+ standards. Now, 20 years after the birth of digital radio transmission, RAS will completely switch to the transmission in DAB+. This switchover is due to government requirement. At this time RAS is transmitting 13 digital radio stations accoording to DAB+ and another nine stations using the older DAB standard (RAI Südtirol, Bayern 3, BR Klassik, B5 aktuell, Ö1, ORF Radio Tirol, Ö3, FM4, Swiss Jazz). Those 9 stations from january 31st on will be sent according to DAB+ only.
12.12.2017
RAI (public broadcaster) expands DAB+ offering
In June 2017 the new director of RAI Radio, Roberto Sergio, has reinforced the Italian public broadcaster RAI’s commitment to DAB+ rollout in Italy by confirming the launch of five new stations, bringing the total number of RAI radio stations on DAB+ up to 10 (five simulcast and five digital only). The new stations will offer Italian music, classical and opera, concerts and regional news, children's radio, variety and fiction. Discover more here. Download a video which was shown at the press conference here.
Roadmap for DAB+
The Italian Government has commited to a road map for DAB+ development, a key part of this will be a plan for coordinated frequency planning. The majority of band III has to be reserved for DAB+. AGCOM also renewed commitment to putting forward legislation that receivers should have FM and digital capability.
The North-Italian region of South Tyrol will start its FM switch-off in 2017.
AgCom has published resolution 664/09 which is plan of frequencies for local digital radio in 39 specific areas. The date of the consultancy was June 9th. This plan is mentioned in an article in the daily newspaper, La Repubblica. More information is available here.
On December 23rd 2014, Agcom, published the rules for three specific areas to be covered by DAB+ digital radio tranmissions, following Trentino Alto Adige, in the regions of Valle d’Aosta, Torino & Cuneo Province in Piedmont and Umbria. The Italian Ministry of Communication assigned on the 9th of March 2015 the frequency blocks of public, private and local operators for these regions. A further 6% of the italian population will receive DAB+ digital radio tranmissions once the services go on air. More information is available here.
Regular services were launched in December 2012 in the Trentino region following a decree by the Italian regulator, AGCOM. The decree published in May 2012 assigned 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). In 2013 regular broadcasting licences were assigned for the Alto Adige region. The Department of Communications released licences for the Trentino area to the National Operators, 12B to the public broadcaster (RAI) and 12C to private national operator Club DAB Italia. The third National Operator Block 12A was assigned July 21 to EURODAB ITALIA.
Local Radio
Five consortia of local broadcasters are currently on air. Two consortia in Trento received the rights on Band III with Channel 10A assigned to DBTAA and Channel 12D to Digiloc. The rights to Channel 10B and 10D have been assigned to RAS and Channel 10C to DABMedia in Bolzano.
In May 2015, AGCOM announced the public consultation for the definition of the local coverage areas in Italy. AGCOM completed the consultation on 29 July 2015 and published the definition of 39 local areas covering all of Italy, and called for applications in 3 specific areas: Eastern Tuscany (Firenze, Arezzo, Pistoia, Prato, Siena), L’Aquila province, Eastern Sardinia (Cagliari, Nuoro, Ogliastra, Carbonia-Iglesias). Full details on AGCOM website. Roll-out in Tuscany is starting now. The Italian association of local TV and radio broadcasters, Aeranti-Corallo has announced the establishment of two new network operators (Toscana DAB and Radio Digitale Toscana) to boost the dissemination of DAB+ in Florence, Pistoia, Prato, Arezzo and Siena.
FM Switch off
In the Italian region of South Tyrol, network operator RAS started switching off FM services in December 2017. Since 2008 RAS has been transmitting digital radio stations in both DAB and DAB+ standards. Now, 20 years after the birth of digital radio transmission, RAS will completely switch to the transmission in DAB+. This switchover is due to government requirement. At this time RAS is transmitting 13 digital radio stations accoording to DAB+ and another nine stations using the older DAB standard (RAI Südtirol, Bayern 3, BR Klassik, B5 aktuell, Ö1, ORF Radio Tirol, Ö3, FM4, Swiss Jazz). Those 9 stations from january 31st on will be sent according to DAB+ only.