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Poland

Last update: 05.03.2024 - older versions

Regular multiplexes were launched by Polskie Radio in Warsaw and Katowice in October 2013 and four more cities in 2014. A further 12 cities launched in Spring 2015 – bringing population coverage to 53.8%. In December 2015 Polskie Radio switched on a digital transmitter in Solec Kujawski, thereby increasing the total national DAB+ signal to 55.6% of the Polish population.

Representatives of Polish radio stations discussed the potential transition to broadcasting in DAB+ during a conference held in May 2018 to discuss the country's radio future, with 37 frequencies to be distributed to 34 cities. KRRiT chairman Witold Kołodziejski said that the organisation was considering DAB+ as the sole successor to FM in Poland, as analogue frequencies were now exhausted.

In May 2019, KRRiT, the National Broadcasting Council of Poland announced the start of a competition for regional and local broadcasters to carry out the creation of new DAB+ multiplexes in 34 cities across Poland.

By January 2020, KRRiT granted fifty DAB+ licenses for the local multiplexes in Warsaw, Toruń, Poznań, Katowice, Tarnów, Rzeszów and Częstochowa. The winners of the competitions for local mux technical operators are PSN Infrastruktura (2 local mux’s) and DABCOM (5 local mux’s). The start (planned by the end of 2021) of the regular transmissions is under preparation.

In October 2021 a new call for tenders for the next DAB+ local licenses as well as for Mux 1, which is dedicated to national non-public broadcasters, was put out. Up until this point, coverage was focused more on cities and with this expansion it will cover more of the main roads.

By March 2024, total DAB+ coverage in Poland had reached 87.7% of the population and 75% of the territory.

Last update: 05.03.2024 - older versions

A detailed list and information on the parameters of DAB+ transmitters in Poland are available on the network provider EmiTel website where data is updated on regular basis.

English version: https://emitel.pl/en/strefa-klienta-2/odbior-rtv/sprawdz-parametry-emisji/

There is an internet forum (Polish only) where people can share experiences on reception, receiver availability and features, get information about future plans and discuss digital radio implementation strategies: http://forum.emitel.pl.

By March 2024, total DAB+ coverage in Poland had reached 87.7% of the population and 75% of the territory.

Map showing DAB+ coverage in Poland at March 2024

DAB+ coverage in Poland, March 2024

Map showing DAB+ coverage in the Lower Silesia region of Poland at March 2024

DAB+ coverage in Lower Silesia region, Poland, March 2024

Last update: 03.03.2021 - older versions

In this country there are

Regional multiplexes: 17 Regular
Local multiplexes: 9 Trial

on air.

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.

After the switch off of analogue TV in 2013, Polskie Radio started two regular DAB+ transmissions with four national simulcast services (Jedynka, Dwojka, Trojka, Czworka, Polish Radio External Service), three exclusive DAB+ services (Polskie Radio 24, Radio Poland and Radio Rytm) and two regional simulcast services (supplied by public regional radio stations, depending on region).

Ultimately 5 unique national and 1 unique regional DAB+ services will be broadcast. The multiplex will contain solely public radio services.

Jedynka
News & current affairs, sports, culture and mainstream music
Launch of DAB+ transmissions
October 1, 2013

Dwójka
A program for connoisseurs of highbrow music and literature.
Launch of DAB+ transmissions
October 1, 2013

Trójka
Cult music and current affairs station.
Launch of DAB+ transmissions
October 1, 2013

Czwórka
About the young, for the young.
The latest trends in music and culture.
Launch of DAB+ transmissions
October 1, 2013

Radio Poland
Radio Poland's international network for expatriate communities in Poland.
Launch of DAB+ transmissions
October 1, 2013

Polskie Radio 24
Polish Radio’s news & current affairs network.
Launch of DAB+ transmissions
October 1, 2013

Radio Rytm
Easy-listening music and news.
Launch of DAB+ transmissions
October 1, 2013

Radio Katowice
Regional broadcaster with the widest coverage in Poland.
Launch of DAB+ transmissions
October 1, 2013

Polskie Radio RDC (Polish Radio RDC)
Traditions of Polish Radio in the Mazovia region coupled with 21st century dynamics.
Launch of DAB+ transmissions
October 1, 2013

Dzieciom
A station for kids and their parents.
Launch of DAB+ transmissions

fourth quarter of 2014

Polskie Radio dla Seniorow
For the young at heart.
Launch of DAB+ transmissions
2015

Polskie Radio Edukacyjne
Popular science for the young.
Launch of DAB+ transmissions
2015

Slideshow is one of two must have functionalities of DAB in Poland. All services broadcast in DAB use DLS and SLS services. Additionally Journaline and EPG are also broadcast together with Polskie Radio and Radio Lodz.

Some of the SLS services on air are very simple (station logo or some DAB promotional pictures) and some are more dynamic. Radio Wroclaw uses SLS for news and slides are being refreshed according to new items appearing on their website.

	Simulcast on AM / FM	Exclusive on digital	Total of services
DAB+ programmes	85	90	175
Data services	1	0	1
Total	86	90	176

Last update: 04.03.2024 - older versions

In March 2024, it was reported that "additional obligations may soon be imposed on the Office of Electronic Communications (UKE)."

"The government's draft Electronic Communications Act stipulates that cars must be equipped with DAB+ receivers. The Ministry of Digitalisation tells Wirtualnemedia.pl that the UKE President is to monitor compliance with these regulations."

"According to the 2020 regulations of the Minister of Digitalisation, from 1 January 2021 all new cars should be equipped with DAB+ tuners. Until 31 March last year, the obligation could be treated as optional by manufacturers or dealers. It happened that the tuner supported digital radio, but this functionality was only unlocked at a surcharge. In vehicles manufactured from 1 April 2023, DAB+ tuners must already be available. Once the new regulations come into force, it will be possible to verify compliance."

Last update: 10.08.2017 - older versions

DAB+ receivers are available through retailers and internet shops. Offers are extended almost every day as digital radio extends coverage and is being noticed by importers, retailers and listeners.

ZIPSEE Digital Poland asks for clear rules for DAB+ receivers

In August 2017, the Polish association of importers and manufacturers of electrical appliances and electronics, ZIPSEE Digital Poland, sent a letter to Minister of Digitisation Anna Strezynska, requesting a regulation stating the minimum technical requirements for digital radio receivers. The companies belonging to the association complain of unfair competition from sellers of digital receivers using the old DAB standard, while Poland has adopted DAB+.

According to research from GFK Poland, 10% of all digital radio receivers sold since the end of September 2016 were of the old, DAB standard. These are not compatible with the DAB+ signal and consumers have been misled by retailers selling the non-compliant receivers, who have exploited shoppers' lack of knowledge.

Last update: 08.05.2019 - older versions

Polish broadcast operator BCAST has launched DAB+ test services in Warsaw, Wroclaw and Gdansk using the DABCAST system SFN model.

Last update: 15.08.2023 - older versions

There are two regulators for broadcasting media in Poland. The National Broadcasting Council manages and issues licences, while the Office of Electronic Communications governs the frequency spectrum. The two bodies work closely together.

Polish frequency plans for T-DAB contain three multiplexes located in the VHF Band III and will be started after the switch off of analogue TV in 2013.

Regulation published by the Polish Ministry of Digital Affairs on 9 November 2020 states that DAB+ became mandatory in category M new vehicles on 1 January 2021, according to the Ordinance of the Minister of Digitisation. (The mentioned Ordinance is an executive act of the Telecommunications Law and is effective from the date indicated therein)

Background:

On 4 November 2020, the Polish Ministry of Digital Affairs published an amendment to regulation that had been published on 14 February 2020, clarifying the technical and performance requirements for radio equipment intended for the reception of digital radio in category M vehicles. The November amendment came into force on 1 January 2021. In particular, the ordinance clarifies the details of some functions (DL, Slide Show, Service following) and specifies the date of April 1, 2023 as the point from which these requirements became mandatory.

Last update: 08.03.2019 - older versions

KRRiT (the National Broadcasting Council of Poland) has launched a website dedicated to digital radio broadcasting (http://www.krrit.gov.pl/radio-cyfrowe).

The website contains reports, information on conferences, seminars and workshops about DAB+ technology as well as links to other pages related to this topic. KRRiT encourages experts interested in the subject to visit their website and add their articles, presentations or case studies.

As part of a media campaign in 2015, a promotional video was created by Polskie Radio to highlight the benefits of listening to radio on DAB+. Entitled, "Digital radio gives you more.", the video communicates the additional benefits of listening to radio on a DAB+ device; better sound, more choice, more content.

Emitel will carry DAB+ broadcasts in three more Polish cities

18.08.2023 - Poland

A tender is underway for the broadcasting and coverage expansion of the Polish Radio DAB+ multiplex. The public broadcaster has decided that broadcasting in Katowice, Łódź and Opole will be carried out by Emitel. The scope of the contract includes 'signal backhaul services to broadcast stations and the dissemination of a multiplex signal in the DAB+ standard, together with the extension of broadcast coverage'. This work will be carried out from 1 October 2023. In some of the areas covered by the contracts, the extension of coverage may take place this autumn, in others from 1 January 2024.

(Wirtualnemedia.pl) Read more

Three stations begin broadcasting on DAB+ in Lodz

02.08.2023 - Poland

Following earlier statements by Jerzy Handzlik, the station's creator and owner, Radio Nuta, Radio Disco and Radio Mega are continuing to expand and have just made their programming available in a new location. "On the night of July 31-August 1, residents of Lodz were able to hear our radios for the first time via DAB+ radio receivers in their apartments and cars. We are pleased that another city is within our reach and its residents have access to our stations based mainly on music. Music in digital DAB+ quality," says Jerzy Handzlik. Following the expansion of coverage, Radio Nuta, Radio Disco and Radio Mega are broadcasting in 12 locations throughout Poland (Warsaw, Lodz, Katowice, Krakow, Wroclaw, Poznan, Szczecin, Gliwice, Czestochowa, Bielsko-Biala, Andrychow, Nowy Sacz).

(WirtualneMedia.pl) Read more

10 experimental multiplexes on air in Poland for another year

12.07.2023 - Poland

At the end of June and the beginning of July, the multiplexes of DABCOM (Andrychów, Gliwice, Krakow, Przehyba), BCAST (Gdansk, Warsaw, Wroclaw), PSN Infrastruktura (Opole), Radio Bielsko (Bielsko-Biala) and Radio and Television Agency Fama (Kielce) expired. The latter multiplex has not yet started broadcasting, but will be able to do so soon. UKE has decided to extend all the above-mentioned licences by one year. There may be more similar decisions in the coming weeks and months.

(Wirtualnemedia.pl) Read more

More stations in Radio Bielsko's DAB+ multiplex

11.07.2023 - Poland

The experimental DAB+ multiplex, which belongs to Radio Bielsko, has another licence from the Office of Electronic Communications for test broadcasting. This time eleven radio stations can be heard there. - As soon as we have an outage or one of the stations stops playing, people immediately call and write to us," Miroslaw Mrzygłód of Radio Bielsko tells us. The experimental DAB+ multiplex, operated by Radio Bielsko, was first launched at the end of 2017. The station received approval for its trial broadcast from the Office of Electronic Communications.

(Wirtualnemedia.pl) Read more

DAB+ licence fees to be significantly reduced, KRRiT proposes

03.07.2023 - National Broadcasting Council of Poland (KRRiT) WorldDAB Member - Poland

The Government Legislation Centre has published a proposed regulation of the National Radio and Television Council providing, among other things, for changes in relation to the regulation currently in force consisting of a four times lower fee for granting or amending a licence for the distribution of a radio programme in the DAB+ standard. "The proposed reductions in the DAB+ licence fee are intended to provide an incentive for new or existing broadcasters to start broadcasting in this standard," it said.

(Wirtualnemedia.pl) Read more

Polish Radio and regional broadcasters ready to spend PLN 86 m (€18m) on DAB+

19.05.2023 - Poland

Polskie Radio has not yet decided on the tender for broadcasting and coverage expansion in DAB+. "The examination of the submitted bids is underway," Monika Kuś, spokesperson for the broadcaster, informs Wirtualnemedia.pl. Together with the regional radio stations, it is ready to allocate nearly PLN 86 million (€18.9m) for digital broadcasting. Emitel's offer amounts to around PLN 60 million (€13.2m). The tender for DAB+ was launched in March and the envelopes were opened on 26 April. The scope of the contract includes 'signal backhaul services to broadcast stations and the dissemination of the multiplex signal in the DAB+ standard, together with the extension of broadcast coverage'. These tasks will be carried out from 1 October 2023.

(Wirtualnemedia.pl) Read more

Another Catholic station in Polsat's experimental multiplex

10.04.2023 - Poland

Radio Niepokalanów has replaced Muzo.fm in the experimental multiplex DABCAST, owned by the Cyfrowy Polsat company BCAST. The Franciscans' station thus joined the Redemptorist (Radio Maryja) and Pauline (Radio Jasna Góra) radio stations, among others, which were already part of this mux. Radio Niepokalanów is broadcast at a bitrate of 136 kbps. The DABCAST test multiplex is available in Gdańsk, Katowice, Warsaw and Wrocław.

(wirtualnemedia.pl) Read more

UKE will not select an operator for a nationwide DAB+ multiplex quickly

04.04.2023 - Poland

The National Broadcasting Council suspended the competition for spots on the nationwide DAB+ multiplex in September 2022. The proceedings are to be resumed after a decision by the Office of Electronic Communications [Urzędu Komunikacji Elektronicznej / UKE] on the mux operator. What is the stage of the proceedings on the operator of the nationwide DAB+ multiplex? "The proceedings should take place this year. We will update you about the details," Witold Tomaszewski, acting spokesman for UKE, tells Wirtualnemedia.pl.

(Wirtualnemedia.pl) Read more

Polskie Radio launches tender for DAB+ broadcasting and coverage expansion

21.03.2023 - Poland

Polskie Radio has launched a tender for the continued broadcasting of public radio stations in DAB+. The deadline for submitting bids is 21 April. According to the documentation of the procedure, the expansion of the multiplex coverage will take place by 1 October 2024 at the latest. The scope of the contract includes 'signal delivery services to broadcast stations and the dissemination of the multiplex signal in the DAB+ standard, together with the extension of broadcast coverage'.

(Wirtualnemedia.pl) Read more

Polish Radio for Ukraine continues its work for the Ukrainian community

17.03.2023 - Poland

17 March marks one year since the Polish Radio launched a special broadcast in the Ukrainian language. Polish Radio for Ukraine is an information, journalistic and music station, which was one of the first in Poland to start broadcasting special information services aimed at the incoming Ukrainian community. The Polish Radio for Ukraine project continues to gradually expand its programming and provides reliable and objective information to refugees from Ukraine. Polskie Radio for Ukraine is available in digital technology on DAB+, and via the Polskie Radio online player and mobile apps.

(Polskie Radio) Read more