Select Country:

Spain

Last update: 08.04.2024 - older versions

Radio Nacional de España begins DAB+ broadcasts

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 19th March 2024, Radio Nacional, Radio 3 and Radio 5 launched on DAB+ in the metropolitan area of Santiago de Compostela.

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.

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

National multiplexes: 3 Regular

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
Total	20	2	22

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.

VIDEO: Radio Nacional de España starts DAB+ broadcasts

01.03.2024 - RTVE WorldDAB Member - Spain

To coincide 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 the country, which is set to replace FM in the long term. (Registration required for video)

(RTVE) Read more

10 facts about DAB+ in Spain

26.02.2024 - Spain

Gorka Zumeta writes: DAB+ is here, now what? In the following lines, we analyse the reality surrounding DAB+ in Spain. Radio Nacional de España announced on 13 February, World Radio Day, that it was launching DAB+ broadcasts in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, Murcia and Bilbao. In principle, only RNE (formerly Radio Uno), Radio 3 and Radio 5 Todo Noticias. Radio Clásica, Ràdio 4 (in Catalonia) and Radio Exterior de España (which does broadcast on DAB) are left out for the time being. Little by little, public radio will gradually bring its digital broadcasts to other cities in Spain, subject to the corresponding announcement. At the same time, the Government of Navarra has granted its first 19 DAB stations with local coverage.

(Gorka Zumeta) Read more

Government of Navarre awards first 19 local DAB licences

22.02.2024 - Spain

The Government of Navarre has awarded the first 19 digital radio licences (digital audio broadcasting or DAB) in the Autonomous Community of Navarre, after the Evaluation Committee made public the evaluation of the 45 proposals received. The 19 licences will be distributed in the following locations: Pamplona / Iruña (5 licences), Altsasu / Alsasua (2), Baztan (2), Estella - Lizarra (2), Larraun (2), Lesaka (2), Tudela (2), Sangüesa / Zangoza (1) and Tafalla (1). The largest number of licences was obtained by Abian Media S.L., with licences in the nine areas in which licences will be awarded.

(Government of Navarre) Read more

The example of British radio: the strongest and most profitable in Europe

22.02.2024 - Spain - United Kingdom

Gorka Zumeta writes: The obvious delay in the introduction of Digital Terrestrial Radio in Spain gives us a competitive advantage over those who have been working with it for years: we know, without taking any risks, the rights and wrongs. While British radio must now migrate from DAB to DAB+, in the case of Spain, we should start the new expansion, practically from scratch, with the DAB+ standard, forgetting the remains of DAB (Madrid and Barcelona). The most notable success of British radio repeats the story of the arrival of FM: new stations, mainly music stations, which have brought the younger audience into radio, so that listeners and also commercial radio revenues have increased.

(Gorka Zumeta) Read more