News

Belgium’s French-language public broadcaster, RTBF, could play a role in a new government-led crisis radio service designed to deliver urgent public information during emergencies. The issue came to light following a report by Sudinfo, a news platform focused on regional and local coverage in southern Belgium. The report said the broadcaster is considering launching a crisis radio channel to ensure the flow of critical information to the public during emergencies. The proposal was subsequently discussed on March 31 during a meeting of the parliamentary commission of the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles. The concept involves a dedicated radio channel using RTBF’s broadcast infrastructure, with DAB+ identified as the preferred distribution platform.

Spain's National Commission for Markets and Competition (CNMC) has published a report containing recommendations to strengthen the efficiency and resilience of the Spanish electricity system, based on the conclusions drawn from the investigation into the incident that occurred on 28 April 2025. The report includes recommendations for other sectors affected by their reliance on the electricity supply. In the telecommunications and audiovisual sectors, there is a call to strengthen coordination with electricity planning, including promoting the roll-out of DAB+ and automatic safety alerts. "The widespread roll-out of DAB+ and subsequently its alert system is an essential recommendation in light of the incident of 28 April 2025," the report says.

In crisis situations, every second counts – and DAB+ radio can become a vital source of information. The new Automatic Safety Alert (ASA) system, which is currently being tested, is capable of automatically switching on certified DAB+ radios and immediately transmitting recommendations for action for the affected region. As a further step towards the introduction of ASA, it is now possible to experience the technology live: anyone who already owns an ASA-certified device or is testing one in a specialist shop can see for themselves. The new function test is broadcast via the first national programme platform and can be received, for example, via the Deutschlandfunk channel ‘Dokumente und Debatten DokDeb’ (Documents and Debates DokDeb).

Under the academic leadership of Prof. Dr. Mehmet Kemal Özdemir, Head of the Artificial Intelligence Engineering Department at Istanbul Medipol University, and with the contributions of fourth-year Electrical and Electronics Engineering students Hakan Sabuniş and Yusuf Ünlü, the development and testing process of the DAB+ ASA (Automatic Safety Alert) system, implemented for the first time in Turkey, was successfully completed. The demo test of this advanced technology system, which has only been trialled in Germany in Europe to date, was conducted at the Çamlıca Television Tower. During the testing process, all components of the system were operated flawlessly, and its performance was successfully observed under emergency scenarios.

The Albrecht DR 760 combines modern audio technology with practical everyday functions. Thanks to DAB+ and FM reception, the radio offers a wide selection of stations and crystal-clear sound quality. The automatic station search ensures quick and easy programming. Ideal for people who value versatile reception, clear sound quality, extensive settings options and intuitive operation – whether in the living room, kitchen or office. With DAB+ and FM reception, the new ASA function and Bluetooth functionality, this model is positioned as a future-proof everyday companion. The new compact Albrecht DR 760 digital radio is now available online and in specialist shops at a recommended retail price of £129.00.

Imperial has unveiled four new DAB+ radios with official ASA certification. These are the DABman280 in silver and black, and the DABman220 and DABman120, both in black. The top model is the DABman280, which will be available for €219.99. The DAB+/FM radio comes with a CD player in a wooden case. ASA functions include warning messages, alarm and switch functions, location codes for warning areas and short alarm cycles for reduced power consumption.

Alerting the public to situations that pose a threat to health and safety is a duty and a long-standing part of broadcasting – the reach and immediacy of the media, especially radio, which people listen to at home, at work, and on the road, combined with a generally high level of trust and very high reliability, make radio an excellent platform for warning the population in crisis situations. For the first time in the Czech Republic at the Media and Technology conference in Průhonice, the ASA (Automatic Safety Alert) warning system was presented. This system is broadcast on DAB+ digital radio networks and targeted at only three areas covering a total of just 1 km2, including the conference venue itself.

#MTM25 will take place from 22 to 24 October 2025 at the House of Communication in Munich. Over three days, Europe's leading media conference will offer over 100 sessions, keynotes and exclusive masterclasses. International experts will discuss the future of the media and communications industry on five stages. The accompanying expo in the immediate vicinity of the stages will feature partner lounges, exhibition areas and showrooms, inviting visitors to network. Bayern Digital Radio will be presenting a live demo of ASA (Automatic Safety Alert) here. The ASA-enabled DAB+ radios on display will respond ‘live’ to the ASA messages broadcast every quarter of an hour. There will also be up-to-date information on network expansion, projects and marketing campaigns.

The Global Radio for Resilience Initiative, led by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) in collaboration with regional broadcasting unions—including the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU), African Union of Broadcasting (AUB), Caribbean Broadcasting Union (CBU), and European Broadcasting Union (EBU)—seeks to highlight the enduring importance of radio as a trusted, accessible, and inclusive communication tool in disaster risk reduction (DRR). This call aims to document, celebrate, and amplify the stories of how radio supports communities in preparing for, responding to, and recovering from disasters. UNDRR and its partners extend an invitation to broadcasters, unions, community organizations, and media practitioners worldwide to submit radio resilience case studies for inclusion in a global publication.

During the nationwide warning day, the Automatic Safety Alert (ASA) security system was successfully tested for the first time via DAB+ radio using standard certified devices. Public and private broadcasters supported the testing with editorial content and test alerts. This positions DAB+ radio as an ideal addition to the warning mix, alongside cell broadcasts on mobile phones and other options for informing the population in crisis situations. Further information on ASA can be found here: www.dabplus.de/asa. In the event of a crisis, it is crucial that ASA radios automatically wake up from standby mode and provide the population with accurate information. These two essential functions of ASA have been successfully tested.