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Spain

Last update: 03.10.2025 - older versions

On 2 October 2025, the Secretary of State for Telecommunications and Digital Infrastructure published, for public consultation, the text of the draft royal decree promoting digital terrestrial radio in Spain using DAB+ technology.

Read the press release

For national broadcasts, the draft legislation stipulates that the transition to this technology must be mandatory and synchronised. RTVE will be allocated an exclusive block of frequencies, which will enable it to increase its content offering capacity. It will also have greater coverage obligations and must reach 85% of the population within 24 months. Private licensees will be integrated into another block, where current coverage obligations will remain in place.

For regional and local channels, a two-phase transition to DAB+ is proposed. In the first phase, any broadcaster may transition to DAB+ at any time and independently, provided that this does not affect other operators or channel planning. In the second phase, the autonomous community will decide on the date on which, on a mandatory and synchronised basis, regional and local network broadcasts in its community will be carried out exclusively using DAB+ technology.

The hearing will be open until 4 November 2025: Public consultation

 

Radio Nacional de España begins DAB+ broadcasts

Coinciding with the celebration of World Radio Day and the centenary year of radio in Spain, Radio Nacional de España has started digital radio broadcasts in DAB+ together with Cellnex Telecom on 13 February 2024, with the firm intention of deploying this digital radio standard in our country, which is set to replace FM in the long term.

You can listen to the following broadcasts on DAB+:

- Radio Nacional and Radio 5 in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, Murcia and Bilbao.

- Radio 3 in Valencia, Seville, Murcia and Bilbao.

These broadcasts are in addition to the existing DAB broadcasts of Radio Nacional, Radio Clásica, Radio 3, Radio 5 and Radio Exterior in Madrid and Barcelona.

On a monthly basis, RNE's offer on DAB+ and the coverage of the service will be progressively increased, starting broadcasts in other Spanish cities.

On 19 March 2024, Radio Nacional, Radio 3 and Radio 5 launched on DAB+ in the metropolitan area of Santiago de Compostela. On 18 April 2024, DAB+ broadcasts launched in Pamplona; on 17 May 2024, in Santa Cruz de Tenerife; on 18 June 2024, in Mijas, covering Málaga, Torremolinos, Benalmádena and Fuengirola; and on 18 July 2024, broadcasts started in Mallorca, from Cellnex Telecom's broadcasting centre in Alfàbia. 

Once deployed throughout Spain, DAB+ will allow Radio Televisión Española to provide the public radio broadcasting service in the terms currently entrusted to it by law, providing maximum geographical and social coverage, with the best quality and additional services specific to DAB+ and with free-to-air broadcasts and free reception.

Regional DAB+

In January 2020, the regional government in Navarra advertised capacity for six DAB services on a future ensemble for the region, designated FU-Nav. Simultaneously, the regional government advertised a total of 72 DAB licences across 12 ensembles, each of which will have local coverage.

In Mallorca, a multiplex licensed by the Autonomous Government of the Balearic Islands began broadcasting in February 2024, broadcasting four stations from the Serra de Alfabia.  

In July 2024, The Govern de les Illes Balears will implement, through DAB+ technology, IB3's digital radio in the first quarter of 2025. The Balearic Islands becomes the first Autonomous Community in which all three radio coverage (local, regional and national) will be offered in DAB+.

Last update: 18.04.2024 - older versions

RNE DAB+ services are on air in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, Murcia, Bilbao, Santiago de Compostela and Pamplona.

These broadcasts join the existing ones on DAB in Madrid and Barcelona.

RNE will increase monthly its content offer and coverage on DAB+ until the end of 2024.

 

RNE coverage: > 30% population

Rest of national stations: 20% population

Last update: 04.03.2024 - 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.

A total of 18 DAB and 4 DAB+ legal audio services are on air, but enhanced features as text, images or programme guides are not available.

Simulcast on AM / FM Exclusive on digital Total of services
DAB programmes 17 2 19
DAB+ programmes 3 0 3
Total20222

Last update: 04.03.2024 - older versions

In Spain, 98% of new cars sold in 2023 have DAB+ as standard (Source: JATO Dynamics 2023).

 

Last update: 04.03.2024 - older versions

Almost a 5% of digital radio receivers sold in retailers includes DAB/DAB+ receiver, although no DAB/DAB+ national promotion has been carried out.

It is estimated that nearly 3 million cars already have a DAB/DAB+ receiver in Spain.

Last update: 21.10.2019 - older versions

Spanish Broadcaster Radio Maria (http://www.radiomaria.es/) started DAB+ test transmissions in Madrid and Barcelona on 2014 December 30th.

This is the first time DAB+ has been used for radio broadcasting in Spain. This DAB/DAB+ network is operated by the Broadcast Network Operator Cellnex Telecom.

Last update: 04.03.2024 - older versions

National station licenses are issued by the central government, while local and regional licenses are the responsibility of the regional government. Licenses are valid for 15 years with an automatic renewal for a further 15 years. Advertising and sponsorship are permitted under the same rules which exist for analogue radio, and data is permitted on up to 20% of multiplex capacity.

Digital Audio Broadcasting is allowed by law in Band III.

There are three layers of services set out by law:

  • National, with 1 SFN multiplex and 2 MFN multiplexes
  • Regional (Comunidad Autónoma basis), with 1/3 SFN multiplex (nowadays without transmissions) and 2/3 MFN multiplex (not implemented)
  • Local, with 237 areas covered by different frequency blocks in Band III

Nowadays, due to the entry into force of the Digitalization Plan for Terrestrial Broadcasting, DAB services are on air only to cover a 20% of the Spanish population (Madrid and Barcelona including their metropolitan areas). It is the minimum population coverage required by the current National Technical Plan for Digital Audio Broadcasting.

RNE is providing DAB+ services covering a percentage of the population above that minimum.

Government of the Balearic Islands promotes modernisation of local radio with grants for DAB+
17.10.2025 - Spain Spain
The Government of the Balearic Islands has published a call for grants in the Official Gazette of the Balearic Islands (BOIB) aimed at encouraging the technological evolution of local digital terrestrial radio broadcasting towards DAB+ technology. With a budget of €300,000, this initiative is aimed at DAB licence holders for local radio stations in the Balearic Islands, with the aim of promoting the digitisation and modernisation of their broadcasts. The call for applications provides for grants covering up to 70% of eligible investments, with a deadline for implementation of 31 December 2026. The grants may be used for investments such as the execution of works and installations, and the acquisition of specific equipment and materials for DAB+ broadcasts (encoders, multiplexers, transmitters, antennas).

(Government of the Balearic Islands) Read more

Spain publishes draft decree to advance DAB+
06.10.2025 - RTVE WorldDAB Member - Spain Spain
Spain’s Ministry for Digital Transformation and the Civil Service has opened a public consultation on a draft royal decree to promote terrestrial digital radio using DAB+ technology. According to the ministry, the initiative marks a key step in the modernization of Spanish radio. The State Secretariat for Telecommunications and Digital Infrastructure, which published the text, states that DAB+ enables more efficient spectrum use, stronger resistance to interference, and advanced features such as multichannel audio. It also notes that the technology will support the Automatic Security Alert system, which delivers localized emergency messages voiced by announcers, with additional text and images displayed on receivers.

(RedTech) Read more

Spain's Ministry for Digital Transformation and Public Service promotes DAB+
03.10.2025 - Spain Spain
The Secretary of State for Telecommunications and Digital Infrastructure has published, for public consultation, the text of the draft royal decree promoting digital terrestrial radio in Spain using DAB+ technology. This initiative represents a key step towards the modernisation of the Spanish radio sector. DAB+ technology allows for more efficient use of the radio spectrum and optimises audio signal encoding, making it more robust against interference. The most modern receivers already incorporate this technology, and European regulations require all new vehicles sold in the European Union to include DAB+ compatible receivers. DAB+ technology enables advanced audio formats (such as multi-channel sound) and will allow the incorporation of features such as the Automatic Safety Alert (ASA) system.

(Ministry for Digital Transformation and Public Service, Spain) Read more

RNE to lead the implementation of DAB+ in Spain
03.10.2025 - RTVE WorldDAB Member - Spain Spain
‘The purpose of this royal decree is to adopt measures (to) promote DAB+ technology in terrestrial digital audio broadcasting audiovisual communication services.’ This is how the Ministry for Digital Transformation and Public Administration, through its Secretariat of State for Telecommunications and Digital Infrastructure, establishes the main objective of this royal decree. The project grants leadership of the introduction and development of digital radio in the DAB+ standard to Corporación Radio Televisión Española, through Radio Nacional de España, as it did in our country in the 1960s with frequency modulation. RNE is once again taking on the responsibility of developing a new radio broadcasting technology, transmitted via radio waves and not dependent on the internet.

(Gorka Zumeta) Read more

Digital radio hits the accelerator: A global overview and the road ahead
23.07.2025 - WorldDAB News - Spain Spain
The pace of digital adoption in radio and television is, without a doubt, vastly different. While DTT (Digital Terrestrial Television) has completely replaced analogue television in a large number of countries and its reach is practically global, the scenario for radio is quite different. But this situation appears to be changing, and digital radio is gaining ground in a growing number of countries. “Just in the last six months, we’ve seen the launch of DAB+ in Turkey and the announcement of a nationwide rollout in Greece, as well as new trials in countries as diverse as Ireland, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Thailand. This comes alongside sustained growth in established markets,” explains to TM BROADCAST Jacqueline Bierhorst, President of WorldDAB and Project Director of Digital Radio NL.

(TM BROADCAST) Read more

Spain moves to relaunch DAB+
20.07.2025 - Spain Spain
Spain’s Ministry of Digital Transformation has launched a public consultation as a first step toward drafting a decree aimed at boosting terrestrial digital radio broadcasting. The proposed decree, currently in development, would rely on DAB+ technology to revitalise a sector that has seen limited uptake in the country, despite commitments dating back more than two decades. The consultation is being held under Article 133.1 of Spain’s Law 39/2015 on public administration procedures. Its goal is to gather input from stakeholders on the relevance, challenges and objectives of the future legislation. Authorities say the decree would address the limited penetration of DAB+ in Spain, significantly lower than in many other European countries.

(RedTech) Read more

The imminent deployment of DAB+ requires strong public incentives
15.07.2025 - Spain Spain
The Spanish Government has just launched the prior public consultation on the new National Technical Plan for Digital Radio. This will address the deployment of digital terrestrial radio through the DAB+ standard. David Fernández Quijada, co-founder and research director of South 180, outlines the potential public incentives that Spanish administrations should offer to ensure the consolidation of DAB+ ahead of the next National Technical Plan for Digital Radio.

(Panorama Audiovisual) Read more

VIDEO: UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction highlights RNE's role during blackout
11.07.2025 - RTVE WorldDAB Member - Spain Spain
The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction has highlighted the role of RNE during the blackout last April and has shared a video produced by RTVE on the coverage of the public broadcaster on its LinkedIn, Facebook and X profiles. 28 April 2025 will remain engraved in the collective memory of those who lived through the blackout on the Iberian Peninsula. In the midst of uncertainty, radio once again proved its value as an essential medium. While communications were down, information was scarce and rumours multiplied, radio became the most reliable and accessible source of information, thanks to vehicle-mounted receivers and portable battery-powered receivers. In fact, portable receivers were soon out of stock in many shops.

(RTVE) Read more

Spanish Government launches DAB+ consultation
09.07.2025 - Spain Spain
The Spanish Government has launched a "Public Consultation on the Draft Standard for the Promotion of Digital Terrestrial Audio Broadcasting with DAB+ Technology". It says: "the Secretary of State for Telecommunications and Digital Infrastructure (SETELECO) is analysing the possibility of initiating and processing a regulatory initiative aimed at adopting measures to promote the terrestrial digital audio broadcasting audiovisual communication service through the introduction and extension of DAB+ technology... this public consultation seeks the opinion of the subjects and the most representative organisations potentially affected by the future regulation. The deadline for submission is 28 July 2025.

(Government of Spain) Read more

The end of the season, the switch-off and the future of radio in Spain
08.07.2025 - Spain Spain
Gorka Zumeta writes: "if radio has a future, it is in DAB+, whether Spanish private broadcasters like it or not. In fact, public and private, in the eyes of the administration, are condemned to understand each other. And the best thing is for them to start as soon as possible, and not wait for the European Union, under pressure from Belgians and Germans, to decide to publish a Directive obliging all member states to establish DAB+ by, say, 2035, the year in which FM would also be switched off. Before then, inevitably, there would be a switch-off of AM, which no longer makes sense in a network hyper-diversified in channels (AM, FM, DAB, DAB+, DTT, App, Webs). The most important reason for this decision would focus on the energy aspect and on the high level of pollution caused by AM and FM.

(Gorka Zumeta) Read more

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Key Information

Status: regular
Population: 46.4 million
Population coverage: Sparkline Graph 30%
Services: 19 DAB, 3 DAB+
New cars with DAB/DAB+ as standard: Sparkline Graph 98%
Last update: 21.03.2024

Useful Links

Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism
rtve
Cellnex Telcom