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On the nationwide warning day, Thursday, 11 September 2025, at 11:00, sirens will be sounded and warning messages will be broadcast via cell broadcast. At the same time, an extended test of the ‘Automatic Safety Alert’ (ASA) warning system will be carried out via DAB+ digital radio. For the first time, the warning messages will be receivable on officially ASA-certified radio devices throughout Germany. ASA reliably informs citizens even when mobile phone or internet connections fail. The system works automatically in the background, can be adapted regionally and uses both regional and nationwide DAB+ networks. Radios with ASA certification can issue warning messages, wake up from standby mode and switch directly to the warning programme.

DAB+ digital radio can save lives: Automatic Safety Alert is a new, globally certified feature for DAB+ radios that automatically broadcasts safety messages. Radio stations, network operators and device manufacturers are currently preparing for the upcoming nationwide warning day on 11 September, when ASA system components will be tested again. At IFA 2025, chip manufacturer Frontier Smart Technologies will present the next step in the development of ASA technology. For the first time, the new software and hardware is capable of displaying safety messages on the colour displays of DAB+ digital radios. In addition to acoustic warnings, visual information such as graphics and warning areas can now also be transmitted – a significant contribution to civil protection.

The new Albrecht DR 455 radio alarm clock combines modern technology with sophisticated design – ensuring not only a pleasant start to the day, but also added safety. Whether you prefer your favourite morning show, the latest news or relaxing music, DAB+ and FM reception allow you to enjoy a wide range of programmes in clear sound quality to start your day – tailored to your personal taste. A special highlight is the new ASA (Automatic Safety Alert) function. This technology provides reliable emergency alerts via the radio – regardless of whether you have an internet or mobile connection. The Albrecht DR 455 DAB+ radio alarm clock is now available from specialist retailers at a recommended retail price of €79.90.

The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction has highlighted the role of RNE during the blackout last April and has shared a video produced by RTVE on the coverage of the public broadcaster on its LinkedIn, Facebook and X profiles. 28 April 2025 will remain engraved in the collective memory of those who lived through the blackout on the Iberian Peninsula. In the midst of uncertainty, radio once again proved its value as an essential medium. While communications were down, information was scarce and rumours multiplied, radio became the most reliable and accessible source of information, thanks to vehicle-mounted receivers and portable battery-powered receivers. In fact, portable receivers were soon out of stock in many shops.

The Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) has published its latest Future of News report, highlighting DAB+ Automatic Safety Alerts (ASA). "The second edition of Future of News Report on INNOVATIONS IN NEWS examines how AI and new technologies improve efficiency, personalize content, and enhance storytelling," the ABU says. The report features "Saving lives with DAB+ Automatic Safety Alerts," an update from Lindsay Cornell, Chair of WorldDAB's Technical Committee. "New technology means we now have a solution to the problem of mobile phone networks failing or being shut down during times of disaster or when terrorists strike," Cornell writes. "Called Automatic Safety Alerts, or ASA, this technology can protect the public during emergencies."

Thanks to the innovative ‘Automatic Safety Alert (ASA)’ technology, the population can be reliably supplied with information digitally via certified DAB+ radios in the event of an emergency or crisis. TechniSat was involved in the development of ASA from the very beginning and is now launching its first device with this pioneering technology, the DIGITRADIO 3 ASA. The warning mix for disaster situations has been enriched by an important component: in addition to cell broadcasting on mobile phones and other options for informing the population in crisis situations, DAB+ radio is also positioning itself as an optimal warning medium. Listeners benefit from a system that keeps them informed even if local mobile phone or internet connections are interrupted.

Audiences love radio in their cars. But the complexity of newer cars threatens radio's convenience. Car makers should be ready to give audiences free, frictionless, prominent radio - and broadcasters should be ready to support it. Radio is resilient. For more than a century, it has been a trusted companion, connecting people with information and entertainment. Today, amid rapid technological change and growing geopolitical uncertainty, we should not underestimate the vital role radio plays in times of crisis. Last month, I visited Chernihiv, a city in northern Ukraine that suffered unimaginable hardship in the early weeks of Russia’s full-scale invasion. With roads blocked, power grids destroyed, and phone signals severed, the people of Chernihiv were left isolated. Yet amid that darkness, one vital source of communication remained: radio.

From the summer, digital radios that support the new Automatic Safety Alert disaster warning technology will go on sale. They will be recognisable by the ASA logo. The technology is based on the digital radio standard DAB+ and is intended to bring official hazard warnings to digital radio receivers, similar to how warning apps and cell broadcasting already do this on current smartphones. The advantage of the additional channel for hazard warnings: DAB+ broadcasting can still function where mobile radio has failed. Switched-off ASA-compatible radios are woken from standby. And local warning messages can also be played out specifically in the affected region.

The widespread blackout in Spain and other European countries has highlighted the importance of broadcasting as a critical infrastructure. 28 April 2025 will be remembered as the day on which the Iberian peninsula experienced one of the largest power blackouts in its recent history. Spain, Portugal, Andorra and parts of southern France suffered a collapse in electricity supply that paralysed critical infrastructures, directly affecting the daily lives of millions of citizens. For hours, a large part of the population was cut off: digital services and fixed and mobile telephone networks stopped working in a large part of the territory. In this context of uncertainty, a traditional medium once again demonstrated its strength: radio.

In the aftermath of the power outage in Spain and Portugal, radio futurologist James Cridland spoke to Radio 4's PM programme about the medium's importance in an emergency. "Of course, most radio is on DAB now and that means you need to find a wind-up DAB radio," he says. "Radio has always made sure that it is an emergency service... the radio is the one thing that you can pretty well guarantee will work because it's not reliant on cellphone connections and wires."