Sweden - Regulation and Spectrum - History
23.02.2022
The Swedish Regulator MPRT has commissioned by the Swedish government to review the conditions for commercial radio in the longer term (Ku 2021/01993). In dialogue with relevant actors, including the industry, the authority plans to analyse the need for any changes in the regulations for licensing. Review timeline:
- May 2022 - publish an interim report with survey and analysis of digital radio development in Europe and analysis of market in Sweden
- Autumn 2022 - submit a draft report analysing the need for possible changes
- December 2022 - report to the Ministry of Culture
Key features of digital radio regulation in Sweden are:
- Band III
- One MUX in big cities only
- Switch-off date is to be set for analogue radio migration to DAB+
- Cost of parallel transmission on analogue and digital to be supported by the Government
- Industry co-ordinator has been appointed by the government to assure a transition by 2022
Regulation for Commercial Radio
In October 2012, all major commercial broadcasters applied for a total of 22 licences in both national and regional VHF Band III networks. The licenses for digital commercial radio were valid from September 2, 2014 to September 20, 2022. All license holders requested suspension with the broadcast start and referred to the uncertainty about whether there is a transition from analogue to digital radio and when such a possible transition can occur. Bauer Media AB, NRJ Sweden AB and Norrköping Radio & Co AB requested further suspension with the launch. MPRT granted them suspension until January 1, 2020 and adjusted the condition of phase expansion. MRTV stated that there would be no requirements on bit rate per service. However, the maximum number of services per commercial multiplex would be 16. The commercial license holders were obliged to co-operate in technical matters including choice of network operator. Coverage requirements may be imposed to ensure that the digital broadcasts reach a certain proportion of the population within the broadcasting area.
Regulation for Public Service Radio
The public service broadcaster, Swedish Radio (SR), got their license directly from the Government. The license period was six years valid until 31 December 2019 allowing Swedish Radio to broadcast digital radio using DAB/DAB+ in VHF Band III, but only to four regions in Sweden (Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmo and Norrbotten) and with a maximum number of nine services (Stockholm and Norrbotten) or 10 (Gothenburg and Malmo).
Spectrum for DAB/DAB+ digital radio
At the spectrum conference GE-2006 Sweden was awarded a total spectrum equivalent to of 4 nationwide DAB/DAB+ multiplexers in Band III. Three of the four multiplexes are MFNs (making regional insertion possible up to the maximum of 34 available frequency layers). In 2010 the Swedish Government awarded two of the four multiplexers (spectrum-wise) to public service radio and remaining two multiplexers to commercial radio.
15.04.2020
Regulation and Spectrum
Key features of regulation for digital radio regulation in Sweden are;
- Band III
- One MUX in big cities only
- Switch-off date is to be set for analogue radio migration to DAB+
- Cost of parallel transmission on analogue and digital to be supported by the Government
- Industry co-ordinator has been appointed by the government to assure a transition by 2022
Regulation for Commercial Radio
In October 2012, all major commercial broadcasters applied for a total of 22 licences in both national and regional VHF Band III networks. The licenses for digital commercial radio are valid from September 2, 2014 to September 20, 2022. There are currently 25 licenses. All license holders have hitherto requested suspension with the broadcast start and referred to the uncertainty about whether there is a transition from analogue to digital radio and when such a possible transition can occur. Bauer Media AB, NRJ Sweden AB and Norrköping Radio & Co AB have requested further suspension with the launch. MPRT has granted them suspension until January 1, 2020 and adjusted the condition of phase expansion. MRTV have stated that there will be no requirements on bit rate per service. However, the maximum number of services per commercial multiplex will be 16. The commercial license holders are obliged to co-operate in technical matters including choice of network operator. Coverage requirements may be imposed to ensure that the digital broadcasts reach a certain proportion of the population within the broadcasting area.
Regulation for Public Service Radio
The public service broadcaster, Swedish Radio (SR), gets their license directly from the Government. The license period is six years with the current license valid until 31 December 2019 and allows Swedish Radio to broadcast digital radio using DAB/DAB+ in VHF Band III, but only to four regions in Sweden (Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmo and Norrbotten) and with a maximum number of nine services (Stockholm and Norrbotten) or 10 (Gothenburg and Malmo).
Spectrum for DAB/DAB+ digital radio
At the spectrum conference GE-2006 Sweden was awarded a total spectrum equivalent to of 4 nationwide DAB/DAB+ multiplexers in Band III. Three of the four multiplexes are MFNs (making regional insertion possible up to the maximum of 34 available frequency layers). In 2010 the Swedish Government awarded two of the four multiplexers (spectrum-wise) to public service radio and remaining two multiplexers to commercial radio.
Applications for licenses
Anyone who wants to broadcast digital commercial radio must apply for a licence with MPRT when such is advertised. A licence to broadcast digital commercial radio entails the right to broadcast a programming service (channel) within the broadcasting area specified in the licence. In an application process, applicants submit their application to the Authority, which then assesses it based on the criteria stated in the Swedish Radio and Television Act. More info here.
21.10.2019
Regulation and Spectrum
Key features of regulation for digital radio regulation in Sweden are;
- Band III
- One MUX in big cities only
- Switch-off date is to be set for analogue radio migration to DAB+
- Cost of parallel transmission on analogue and digital to be supported by the Government
- Industry co-ordinator has been appointed by the government to assure a transition by 2022
Regulation for Commercial Radio
In October 2012, all major commercial broadcasters applied for a total of 22 licences in both national and regional VHF Band III networks. The licenses for digital commercial radio are valid from September 2, 2014 to September 20, 2022. There are currently 25 licenses. All license holders have hitherto requested suspension with the broadcast start and referred to the uncertainty about whether there is a transition from analogue to digital radio and when such a possible transition can occur. Bauer Media AB, NRJ Sweden AB and Norrköping Radio & Co AB have requested further suspension with the launch. MPRT has granted them suspension until January 1, 2020 and adjusted the condition of phase expansion. MRTV have stated that there will be no requirements on bit rate per service. However, the maximum number of services per commercial multiplex will be 16. The commercial license holders are obliged to co-operate in technical matters including choice of network operator. Coverage requirements may be imposed to ensure that the digital broadcasts reach a certain proportion of the population within the broadcasting area.
Regulation for Public Service Radio
The public service broadcaster, Swedish Radio (SR), gets their license directly from the Government. The license period is six years with the current license valid until 31 December 2019 and allows Swedish Radio to broadcast digital radio using DAB/DAB+ in VHF Band III, but only to four regions in Sweden (Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmo and Norrbotten) and with a maximum number of nine services (Stockholm and Norrbotten) or 10 (Gothenburg and Malmo).
Spectrum for DAB/DAB+ digital radio
At the spectrum conference GE-2006 Sweden was awarded a total spectrum equivalent to of 4 nationwide DAB/DAB+ multiplexers in Band III. Three of the four multiplexes are MFNs (making regional insertion possible up to the maximum of 34 available frequency layers). In 2010 the Swedish Government awarded two of the four multiplexers (spectrum-wise) to public service radio and remaining two multiplexers to commercial radio.
Applications for licenses
Anyone who wants to broadcast digital commercial radio must apply for a licence with MPRT when such is advertised. A licence to broadcast digital commercial radio entails the right to broadcast a programming service (channel) within the broadcasting area specified in the licence. In an application process, applicants submit their application to the Authority, which then assesses it based on the criteria stated in the Swedish Radio and Television Act. More info here.