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Jean-Marc Dubreuil, WorldDAB's Program Manager - France, writes: On 28 January 2025, the Paris Radio Show, France's only trade event dedicated to the radio industry, will open its doors to industry players. Among the participants will once again be WorldDAB, the international organisation dedicated to the development and promotion of DAB+ (Digital Audio Broadcasting). DAB+, the digital standard for broadcasting, is gaining momentum worldwide. The Paris Radio Show covers major issues for the future development of radio. France is at a critical stage in the deployment of DAB+. WorldDAB offers an opportunity to discuss the trends shaping the future of digital broadcasting, and to share best practices in the deployment of DAB+.

In accordance with its commitment to increase the coverage of the service, RNE has begun broadcasting in DAB+ from Cellnex's broadcasting centre in Cerro de La Muela, from where it provides coverage to the metropolitan area of Zaragoza. In this way, Radio Nacional, Radio Clásica, Radio 3 and Radio 5 become the first radio stations in Aragón to legally broadcast in DAB+. With this, it is now possible to listen to RNE's broadcasts in DAB+ from 13 broadcasting centres in the standard that is set to become the long-term replacement for FM in Europe. It is estimated that there are currently more than 3.8 million cars with DAB and DAB+ reception in Spain.

At the turn of the year, the private broadcaster SUNSHINE LIVE switched off its FM frequencies in Rostock (92.4 MHz) and Stralsund (103.1 MHz). This measure affects many listeners in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, who now have to switch to alternative reception channels. SUNSHINE LIVE will continue to be available via DAB+ and via live stream on the Internet, so that fans of electronic music will not have to do without their favourite programme. The switch-off of FM frequencies is part of a larger changeover in which SUNSHINE LIVE is increasingly focussing on digital distribution channels. This enables better sound quality and a wider reach. In Stuttgart, however, SUNSHINE LIVE's FM transmitter will remain in operation.

NBTC Air Chief Marshal Dr. Thanapan Harayacharoen chaired a meeting on 19 December 2024 to clarify and provide understanding on the technical aspects of digital radio transmitters and receivers. The objective was to provide operators with an understanding of the practices and requirements after the Commission’s announcement on technical standards for digital radio transmitters and its announcement on technical standards for digital radio receivers were published in the Government Gazette. The meeting was held at Crystal Room 1-2, 3rd floor, Century Park Hotel, Bangkok.

Air Chief Marshal Dr. Thanapan Haraijaroen, a member of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), chaired a meeting in December to assist understanding around the technical standards of digital radio transmitters and receivers, as well as to enable operators and related industries to understand better the practices and requirements under the announcement after it was published in the Government Gazette on October 31, 2024. This announcement focuses on promoting the industrial sector in Thailand to be able to produce both transmitters and receivers by themselves to be used in accordance with the standards set by the NBTC.

The Spanish Association of Car and Truck Manufacturers (Anfac) has published its data on car and SUV registrations in Spain, certifying that for the first time since the pandemic, the figure of one million cars has been exceeded, representing a growth of 7.1 percent over the previous year. This year's figure, added to the registrations of previous years since 2021, the full year in which the European Electronic Communications Code (EECC) came into force, which established the EU's commitment to the DAB/DAB+ standard for Digital Terrestrial Radio and the obligation for all vehicles marketed in Europe to incorporate receivers to pick up these radio signals, means that the number of registrations since then has reached 3,639,097 cars, which are fitted with FM/DAB/DAB+ radio receivers (OM not in all cases).

The Communications Authority of Kenya is seeking public views on three key regulatory initiatives meant to spur the growth of the ICT sector, including digital radio licensing. The Authority says "having developed a Digital Sound Broadcasting (DSB) framework to guide the introduction of digital radio broadcasting services in Kenya, the Authority has developed the corresponding licence templates for the DSB infrastructure and services in readiness for the implementation of the DSB licensing framework in the 2025/26 financial year." The Authority is seeking stakeholder comments on 10 proposed licence categories under the DSB framework, with a deadline for submission of input set for 17 January 2025.

The Swiss appear to have swiftly adapted to their state broadcaster’s decision to transmit exclusively on digital platforms. On New Year’s Eve, the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG SSR) turned off connections to its analog FM transmitters at 11:59 p.m. As RedTech reported last year, Switzerland’s transition to digital-only radio broadcasting has been years in the making. Planning began about a decade ago when the Swiss Federal Office of Communications, private radio stations and SRG SSR collaborated to establish DAB+ as the new standard. Predictions of its success have largely been validated, solidifying digital platforms as the future of Swiss broadcasting. In 2020, Swiss radio stations were no longer obligated to broadcast on FM. Confronted with the high costs of maintaining three broadcasting technologies and shifting audience habits, SRG SSR’s board of directors opted to phase out FM transmission by 31 December 2024.

Following the recent award by the Ministry of Enterprise and Industry of the right to use local network no. 2 in catchment area no. 6 - Friuli Venezia Giulia, on DAB block 9D, Friuli Venezia Giulia DAB, the local network operator of the Aeranti-Corallo association system, has started its full-scale operations. In particular, the Col Gaiardin (PN) plant, with which trials had previously been carried out, was fully activated on DAB block 9D. The other site with which the trial was carried out, located in Conconello (TS), will be fully activated by the deadline (roadmap) set by the Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy.

The history of DAB+, or at that time only DAB, began 14 years ago when the first Teleko transmitters began broadcasts. After years, operators have finally managed to break free from the clutches of the past. Not only has the transition to Band III (formerly reserved for analogue television) been completed, but at the end of 2024, the operation of transmitters with limited coverage ended. In addition to Czech Radio, which has built its DAB+ network for 96% of the population with external coverage in recent years, commercial operators such as Teleko digital, RTI cz, Fiera touch, JOE Media and Czech Radio Communications, or its subsidiary Czech Digital Group (CDG), have now settled down. They will be joined in the coming months by other players such as Play.cz, Broadcast Services and GG Omikron.