How we work
WorldDAB is a membership organisation which operates for the benefit of its members
WorldDAB has several committees that are governed by its members. Working groups and task forces focus on specific areas related to the deployment of DAB. The operational day-to-day to running of WorldDAB is undertaken by the WorldDAB Project Office.
WorldDAB Statutes: English French
WorldDAB General Assembly
The WorldDAB General Assembly is an annual member meeting where members make decisions on the strategic direction of WorldDAB. The General Assembly provides an opportunity for members to share their experiences and insight on all aspects of digital radio rollout.
Steering Board
The Steering Board is comprised of elected representatives from WorldDAB member organisations who oversee the operational and financial management of the organisation, implementing strategic measures to ensure the successful rollout of DAB+.
View full list of WorldDAB Steering Board Members
Chair and President: Jacqueline Bierhorst, Digital Radio NL
Technical Committee
The Technical Committee maintains and augments the ETSI DAB standards, which include the core system specification, audio coding, data applications, distribution and contribution interfaces and receiver testing. The standards are applicable for the whole DAB family: DAB, DAB+ and DMB. The Technical Committee also ensures that technical developments in related fields are also factored into the evolution and develops guidance in cooperation with other parts of WorldDAB.
Chair: Lindsay Cornell, Principal Systems Architect, BBC Future Media, UK
Spectrum and Network Implementation Committee
The Spectrum and Network Implementation Committee provides guidance on DAB network implementation including how to build a transmission site, multiplexing and sound processing, monitoring and signal distribution and data service implementation. This Committee also monitors and lobbies to ensure frequency availability for DAB+.
Chair: Hanns Wolter, Technical Director, DAB Italia, Italy
Automotive Working Group
The Automotive Working Group brings together the broadcast and automotive industries to collaborate on the optimum implementation of DAB+ digital radio in the car. The Group is focused on three areas: improving the user experience for in-car digital radio, ensuring optimal performance of the DAB radio in the car including antenna performance. This group also works on aftermarket DAB devices, both line-fit and stand-alone devices.
Chair: Gregor Pötzsch, Product Owner (Radio), CARIAD, Volkswagen Group
Marketing Group
The Marketing Group helps broadcasters develop a DAB+ marketing strategy by sharing resources, case studies and best practice from countries and regions where broadcasters are already informing their listeners about DAB+.
Chair: Jacqueline Bierhorst, Project Director, Digital Radio NL
Finance Committee
The WorldDAB Finance Committee is responsible for developing, in conjunction with the President and Project Director, an annual budget for approval by the General Assembly. It proposes broad financial policy objectives to carry out the activities of the Forum. It ensures appropriate processes exist to monitor and oversee the management of all aspects of risk as well as oversee revenue generation and business processes.
Treasurer: Lars Boysen, Senior Director Product Marketing, NXP Semiconductors
Asia Pacific Committee
The Asia Pacific Committee addresses the unique needs and concerns of broadcasters in the APAC region, offering support and assistance in the successful rollout of DAB+. Working under the guidance of this committee is the Asia-Pacific Technical Group which gives guidance on the technical aspects of implementing DAB+ digital radio, with help and advice that is tailored specifically to the needs of the region. The Group works in tandem with the WorldDAB Technical and Spectrum & Network Implementation Committees.
How DAB Family of standards are maintained
Based on the needs of the market, the Steering Board, Technical Committee and its Task Forces draw up a set of user requirements that outline the market parameters such as user functions, timescales and price range. Once consensus on the user requirements is reached the Technical Committee and relevant Task Force develop the specifications.
This will include examining the technological implications of the user requirements and examination of the technologies available. Once the Technical Committee reaches consensus on the resulting specification, and the Steering Board’s support for it has been ensured, the specification is put forward to the Steering Board.
The Steering Board gives the final approval of the specification. It is then offered for standardisation to the relevant international standards body (i.e. ETSI or CENELEC) through the EBU/ETSI/CENELEC Joint Technical Committee or the International Telecommunication Union (ITU-R or ITU-T).