Sweden - Current situation - History
23.10.2013
In 2013, the Government put forward a Bill that proposed that Swedish Radio shall expand their current DAB network to 95% of the population including a migration to DAB+ and a switch-over from FM to DAB+ in 2022. The Government has appointed a Digital radio Industry Coordinator to put forward a Switchover plan (in 2014) after consultation with the public service broadcaster Swedish Radio and the private radio broadcasters. The Bill will be up for decisions in the Parliament before 2013 is over and could be effective in the coming licensing period for Swedish Radio that starts on 1 January 2014 and runs for six years.
DAB transmissions in Sweden started 1995 and today the coverage is 35% of the population with services from public service broadcaster Swedish Radio (SR). The license under which SR operates is valid until 31 December 2013. There is a proposition that SR shall expand their coverage to 95% during next licensing period 2014 - 2020. In 2011, the license process for commercial digital radio started and it is expected to run until the end of 2013-2014. The commercial digital radio licenses will be valid until 31 December 2020. This process is expected to pave the way for launch of commercial radio in DAB+. In August 2013, the process continues but still no licenses have been issued.
In 2010, the Radio and TV Act came into effect which, for the first time, allowed commercial radio companies to apply for digital licenses. This paved the way for a radio industry united behind DAB+, something for which both public and commercial services have been lobbying for.
In 2009, pilot transmissions of DAB+ started and the coverage quickly reached 22% of the population with 16 services from public service radio, commercial radio and community local radio.
08.03.2013
DAB transmissions in Sweden started 1995 and today the coverage is 35% of the population with services from public service broadcaster Swedish Radio (SR) . The license under which SR operates is valid until 31 December 2013 . There is a proposition that SR shall expand their coverage to 95% during next licensing period 2014 - 2020.
In 2009, pilot transmissions of DAB+ started and the coverage quickly reached 22% of the population with 16 services from public service radio, commercial radio and community local radio.
In 2010, the Radio and TV Act came into effect which, for the first time, allowed commercial radio companies to apply for digital licenses. This paved the way for a radio industry united behind DAB+, something for which both public and commercial services have been lobbying for some time.
In 2011, the license process for commercial digital radio started and it is expected to run until the end of 2012. The commercial digital radio licenses will be issued at the earliest 1 January 2013 and be valid until 31 December 2020.
In 2012, the Public Service Commission proposed that SR should expand their current DAB network to 95% of the population including a migration to DAB+. The proposals will be up for decisions in the Parliament in 2013 and could be effective in the coming licensing period that starts on 1 January 2014.
In 2013, the radio industry awaits two developments: (1) licenses for commercial digital radio to be issued and (2) a decision from the Swedish Parliament that SR shall (and is given financial means to) expand their current DAB network to 95% of the population including a migration to DAB+. The decisions are expected to pave the way for commercial launch of DAB+.
17.10.2012
DAB transmissions started in 1995 and today reach 35% of the population with seven services from public service broadcaster Swedish Radio (SR). The license under which SR operates is valid until 31 December 2013. In 2009, pilot transmissions of DAB+ started and the coverage quickly reached 22% of the population with 16 services from public service radio, commercial radio and community local radio.
In 2010, the Radio and TV Act came into effect which, for the first time, allowed commercial radio companies to apply for digital licenses. This paved the way for a radio industry united behind DAB+, something for which both public and commercial services have been lobbying for some time.
Sweden is anticipating the launch of commercial digital radio.The license process for commercial digital radio has started and is expected to run until the end of 2012. The commercial digital radio licenses will be valid from 1 January 2013 until 1 January 2020.
As for the public service digital radio network, this awaits political decisions expected to come in 2013, which means they can be effective in the coming licensing period that starts on 1 January 2014.