News

The DAB Italia consortium was awarded the contract to broadcast Vatican Radio programmes on DAB+ in accordance with the 2010 Agreement between Italy and the Holy See, following a procedure launched by the MIMIT on 16/06/2025. The outcome of the tender — which set high standards, direct responsibilities and reduced margins of tolerance — is set to influence the future balance of the Italian DAB+ market, setting a benchmark for transmission capacity, service quality and the economic sustainability of long-term models.

The distribution of Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB+) via the Malang branch of the Indonesian Public Broadcasting Agency (LPP RRI) has received a positive response. This is particularly true of radio stations in the Greater Malang area and surrounding regions that are partners of RRI Malang. Several DAB+ radios were distributed to a number of recipients in a marathon effort over several weeks. After being set up from the RRI Malang digital transmitter channel, several radio stations in Malang City and Batu City, as well as parts of Malang Regency and Blitar City, had the opportunity to receive DAB+ radio. Several broadcasters benefiting from RRI Malang welcomed RRI's innovation and breakthrough in developing the DAB+ programme.

Recently, several local and regional broadcasters have started broadcasting via DAB+. In the Dalfsen, Hardenberg, Ommen and Twenterand region, several local broadcasters have started broadcasting via DAB+. The broadcasters Delta FM (Twenterand), Omroep NOOS (Hardenberg/Dedemsvaart) and Vechtdal FM (Dalfsen/Ommen) can be listened to in their region via channel 5B. In the Eindhoven region, Radio S&B (Son en Breugel) has recently become available via DAB+. The broadcaster can be listened to together with other local broadcasters from this region on channel 5A. Since mid-October, various local broadcasters in the Dordrecht region have also started broadcasting via DAB+. The broadcasters can be heard in their respective regions on channel 6A.

Flemish people are embracing digital radio en masse. The biennial survey conducted by Ipsos on behalf of the Flemish Minister for Media shows that Flanders will reach a tipping point in 2025. 54% of total listening volume will be via digital channels such as DAB+, the internet or digital TV. In 2023, this figure was still 49%. DAB+ remains the most popular digital channel, accounting for 32% of listening volume. Digital listening via the internet is growing strongly and now accounts for 18%. The joint efforts of DPG Media, Mediahuis, VRT, various local players and the Flemish government are clearly bearing fruit. Flemish people's knowledge of digital listening has increased enormously. Nine out of ten Flemish people know at least one way to listen to digital radio.

The Malang branch of the Indonesian Public Broadcasting Agency (LPP RRI) has been entrusted by the central government to distribute 110 Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB+) radios to various related institutions. Of the various RRI stations spread across provinces in Indonesia, RRI Malang is one of a total of five stations that have been recognised by the central government for their efforts in radio broadcasting digitalisation. The others are RRI Semarang, RRI Yogyakarta, RRI Gunung Sitoli, and RRI Bengkulu. The 110 DAB+ radio units through RRI Malang were distributed to a number of recipients in batches over several weeks. These recipients include the executive agencies of district/city government work units and the DPRD legislative body, local public broadcasting partner agencies, related private radio media, and loyal RRI listeners.

Drift Radio is celebrating its fifth anniversary by launching on DAB+ digital radio across the North Wales coast, marking a major step for the community dance and electronic music station. Co-founder Kevin Wright said: “We’re incredibly proud to be marking five years of Drift with our move onto DAB+. When we started there was nothing quite like this for our community. Drift gives people who love dance and electronic music a place to connect and be heard.” The expansion has been supported by Denbighshire Voluntary Services Council and funding from the Denbighshire Key Fund, which helped facilitate the technical move to DAB+. Listeners can now find Drift Radio on DAB+ along the North Wales coast.

Ofcom has today awarded small-scale DAB multiplex licences for five more areas across the UK. Small-scale DAB is an innovative technology which provides a low-cost way for local commercial, community and specialist music services to take to the digital airwaves. So far, 79 multiplexes have launched broadcasting to listeners across all four nations of the UK. In total, the small-scale DAB programme will enable the launch of over 100 multiplexes. Following a competitive process, where each applicant was judged against specific criteria, multiplex licences have been awarded for the following areas: Lancaster, North Somerset, Oban, Taunton, and West Oxfordshire.

The FM switch-off in Schleswig-Holstein is entering the next round. On 23 November, a station that can be received throughout the state will bid farewell to analogue broadcasting. Since the beginning of this year, the FM switch-off has been in full swing in the far north of Germany. The goal is to switch completely to DAB+ digital radio. In the run-up to this, the DAB+ transmitter networks in Schleswig-Holstein were consolidated to such an extent that digital reception of programmes is still guaranteed. On 23 November, the private broadcaster delta radio will withdraw from FM and will only be available digitally in future. The date of 23 November 2025 is no coincidence, but coincides with the expiry of delta radio's FM broadcasting licence.

Another federal state wants to strengthen DAB+ digital radio and gradually phase out analogue FM radio. According to the draft of a new state media law, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania will no longer issue new licences for vacant FM frequencies in future, in order to promote the gradual digitisation of terrestrial radio, in particular DAB+. The northern federal state is thus following a similar path to Rhineland-Palatinate, where the aim is now also to phase out FM. Exceptions, such as to close FM coverage gaps, remain possible. If a frequency becomes available, it can still be allocated to an existing provider if they register a need for it. However, there will be no new programmes on the FM dial and no corresponding tenders.

The music station Slow Down Radio has begun broadcasting in the DAB+ digital standard on the Play.cz multiplex. The station has thus become the fourth programming service within this multi-regional operator. Slow Down Radio complements the existing offering consisting of Radio Relax, Expres FM, and Classic Praha. The project focuses on black music, including jazz, soul, funk, and hip-hop. Slow Down Radio is broadcast on the Play.cz multiplex with a standard data rate of 64 kbps in AAC codec with EEP 2-A protection, as are the three other stations in the multiplex – Classic Praha, Expres FM, and Radio Relax. This technical parameter ensures consistent sound quality across all programs.