Luxembourg

An important page in the history of radio is being turned in Luxembourg: the giant transmitters of Beidweiler in Luxembourg were finally switched off on 1 January. It was the last of the big radio stations in France to still broadcast on long wave. Since the beginning of 2023, this is over. RTL no longer broadcasts its signal on long wave from its transmitter centre in Beidweiler, Luxembourg. The measure, which was taken primarily to save money, should enable the group to reduce its electricity consumption by some 6,000 megawatt hours (MWh) per year, the equivalent of 3,000 people in France. The station has launched a communication campaign to help its listeners switch to other listening methods, in particular FM, DAB+ digital terrestrial radio, TV boxes and its mobile application.

The government is due to present a study on how to introduce digital audio broadcasting in Luxembourg, with the document delayed from 2021. In September 2020, Luxembourg launched a study on the introduction of DAB+ and the results are due to be presented in May this year, prime minister Xavier Bettel (DP), who is also media minister, said in answer to a parliamentary question on Tuesday. The service was expected to launch last year.

Regular services are set to launch in Luxembourg by the end of 2021, with DAB+ coverage initially expected to reach approximately 90% of the population.

The research, carried out by Luxembourg's Department of Media, Telecommunications and Digital Policy along with the Broadcasting Center Europe (BCE), aimed to identify the various requirements needed to deploy DAB+ in Luxembourg. The findings of the research will now be analysed, and followed with a timeline for the rollout of DAB+ services in 2021.

Luxembourg's Media and Communications Authority is working towards the launch of DAB+ digital radio. According to RTL, a trial DAB+ multiplex operated by their subsidiary BCE was launched on 18 September with the hope of a national DAB+ launch by spring 2021. RTL state that the motivation for launching DAB+ is to improve coverage and reception of existing radio stations, and to permit the launch of new radio programmes in Luxembourg, given the FM frequency is full.

Luxembourg's Media and Communications Authority is working towards the launch of DAB+ digital radio. A new study has now been launched to determine the various requirements for DAB+ in Luxembourg, while regular DAB+ services may launch as early as in spring 2021.

RTL subsidiary BCE is set to start live DAB+ test transmissions in September or October this year. Two sites will be used for the transmissions, and all local radio stations across the country are expected to take part in the trial.

BCE, a subsidiary of RTL Group, have been conducting tests of DAB+ broadcasts on Channel 7D, with two programmes on air. The test signals are reaching as far as the Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland regions of Germany, and over the Belgian border.

New DAB+ channels are being launched in Belgium, Luxembourg and northern France. New channels will be launched in Lille from 19 June, while DAB+ is being expanded in the Flanders region of Belgium. Test broadcasts are also taking place in Luxembourg.