Poland

Last update: 28.10.2021 - 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.

Total population coverage in Poland stands at 67,1% (October 2021), increasing to approximately 80% after the spring 2022 expansion.

 

Last update: 13.09.2021 - 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

Regular services

The regular national/regional multiplexes have sites in in Warszawa, Katowice, Wroclaw, Szczecin, Lodz, Opole, Krakow, Bialystok, Gdansk, Bydgoszcz, Kielce, Kolobrzeg, Koszalin, Lublin, Olsztyn, Poznan, Rzeszow, Torun, Zielona Gora and Solec Kujawski reaches 20.8 million people.

Region 

Channel  Number  

Coverage % population (mobile)

Content

Warszawa

6B

7

4 national simulcast, 4 national digital-only, 1 regional simulcast

Katowice

11A

9

4 national simulcast, 4 national digital-only, 1 regional simulcast

Szczecin

11A

10

4 national simulcast, 4 national digital-only, 1 regional simulcast, 1 regional digital only

Wroclaw

12B

 

4 national simulcast, 4 national digital-only, 1 regional simulcast, 1 regional digital only

Kielce

5D

1

4 national simulcast, 4 national digital-only, 1 regional simulcast

Lodz

5C

 

4 national simulcast, 4 national digital-only, 1 regional simulcast

Opole

11C

 

4 national simulcast, 4 national digital-only, 1 regional simulcast

Bialystok

5B

 

4 national simulcast, 4 national digital-only, 1 regional simulcast

Gdansk

10D

 

4 national simulcast, 4 national digital only, 1 regional simulcast

Bydgoszcz

11C

 

4 national simulcast, 4 national digital-only, 1 regional simulcast

Koszalin

12D

 

4 national simulcast, 4 national digital-only, 1 regional simulcast

Lublin

10B

 

4 national simulcast, 4 national digital-only, 1 regional simulcast

Olsztyn

10C

 

4 national simulcast, 4 national digital-only, 1 regional simulcast

Poznan

12A

 

4 national simulcast, 4 national digital-only, 1 regional simulcast

Rzeszow

11A

 

4 national simulcast, 4 national digital-only, 1 regional simulcast

Zielona Gora

12C

 

4 national simulcast, 4 national digital-only, 1 regional simulcast

Krakow

12D

 

4 national simulcast, 4 national digital-only, 1 regional simulcast, 1 regional digital only

 

Trial services

The trial local multiplex in Kielce covers the city and suburban areas and reaches 250,000 people. The trial local multiplex in Szczecin covers the city and suburban areas and reaches 600,000 people.

Region  Channel Number  Coverage % population (mobile) Content
Kielce 5D 1 4 national simulcast, 4 regional simulcast
Toruń 10A 3 4 national simulcast, 4 regional simulcast
Szczecin 12B 10

4 national simulcast, 4 regional simulcast

 

 

 

 

The DAB+  implementation schedule

1st Oct 2013  regular DAB+ services in Warsaw and Katowice

1st Aug 2014, regular DAB+ services in Gdansk, Kielce, Krakow, Wroclaw and Szczecin

1st Oct 2014, regular DAB+ services in Poznan, Lodz and Opole

1st Jan 2015, regular DAB+ services in Bydgoszcz, Koszalin, Olsztyn and Zielona Gora

1st Apr 2015, regular DAB+ services in Bialystok, Lublin and Rzeszow

The whole country by the end of 2020

The plan can be seen in the image below:

Last update: 03.03.2021 - older versions

In this country there are

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
Total8690176

Last update: 16.02.2022

In Poland, 92% of new cars sold in 2021 have DAB+ as standard (Source: JATO Dynamics 2022).

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: 08.03.2019 - 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.

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. 

 

 

 

New DAB+ mux in Poland
06.08.2021 - Poland Poland
In mid-July, the telecommunications company PSN Infrastruktura put into operation a new DAB+ multiplex in the Polish city of Opole. Currently, four radio stations are broadcast and a further transmitter is planned.

(digital.rozhlas.ca) Read more


Polish Radio will increase its presence in DAB+
29.07.2021 - Poland Poland
From October, thanks to the activation of additional transmitters, the broadcasts of Polish Radio via the DAB+ standard will reach 80.1% of the population of Poland.

(wirtualnemedia.pl) Read more


UKE announces the results of the competition for local DAB+ operators
21.07.2021 - Poland Poland
The Office of Electronic Communications informed that the operator of five local DAB+ multiplexes will be DABCOM, and the other two to which the competition announced in April was going to go to PSN Infrastruktura.

(wirtualnemedia.pl) Read more


Polish Radio launches new DAB+ transmitter in eastern Poland
10.02.2021 - Poland Poland
The new transmitter, which was launched in the region bordering Belarus, will enable DAB+ listeners in the region to access the same DAB+ stations as listeners in Warsaw.

(Czech Radio) Read more


Poland introduces national regulation for DAB+ in cars
09.11.2020 - Poland Poland
Regulation published by the Polish Ministry of Digital Affairs on 9 November 2020 states that DAB+ will become 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.

(Polish Ministry of Digital Affairs) Read more


Emitel builds new transmitters for Polish Radio
23.10.2020 - Poland Poland
Polish TVR transmission operator Emitel has deployed ten new transmitters for Polish Radio. About 67% of the country’s population and 44% of the country’s area will be covered by DAB+ services by the end of 2020.

(Telecompaper) Read more


Poland expands DAB+ network
01.10.2020 - Poland Poland
Poland's DAB+ network has been expanded following the launch of ten new transmitters across the country. The transmitters, which went into operation on 1 October, are the result of a tender announced in June 2019.

(Radio Polska) Read more


Polish radio to prioritise DAB+ network expansion in coming years
16.06.2020 - Poland Poland
Polish Radio has outlined its plans to expand the DAB+ network in Poland and cover most of the country with DAB+ reception in the next four years. As part of the public broadcaster's upcoming plans, DAB+ reception is set to cover 80% of the population and 61% of the territory by September 2023.

(Wirtualne Media) Read more


BCAST joins Polsat Group
14.05.2020 - Poland Poland
BCAST, the Polish alternative broadcasting operator, has gained a new shareholder, Cyfrowy Polsat. The new partner will bring extensive technological facilities and extensive know-how in the field of telecommunications to BCAST. The cooperation of both entities will have a technological dimension, but also a business one, opening up new market opportunities and development prospects for BCAST.

(Grupa Polsat) Read more


DAB+ development resumes in Poland
04.12.2019 - National Broadcasting Council of Poland (KRRiT) WorldDAB Member - Poland Poland
Despite a number of stations launching on DAB+ in recent years, much of the radio landscape in Poland has remained unchanged since DAB+ first launched in 2015. However, as confirmed at the WorldDAB General Assembly 2019 in Brussels, Poland is now preparing to resume the development of its DAB+ network.

(Radio World) Read more


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Key Information

Status: regular
Population: 37.7 million
Population coverage: Sparkline Graph 67.1%
Services: 175 DAB+, 1 Data
New cars with DAB/DAB+ as standard: Sparkline Graph 92%
Last update: 06.05.2022

Useful Links

dab.polskieradio.pl
The National Broadcasting Council (Krajowa Rada Radiofonii i Telewizji (KRRiT))
Radio cyfrowe
Office of Electronic Communications
Poland - EECC regulation