Belgium - Regulation and Spectrum - History
24.07.2018
Frequency agreement between French and Flemish communities
In July 2018 The Flemish Government approved a cooperation agreement between the French and the Walloon Communities on the use of digital frequencies for DAB+ on each other's territory. Commercial broadcasters for DAB+ will also be able to use the Waver and Vloesberg locations and the French Community will be able to broadcast public and private broadcasters from Sint-Pieters-Leeuw.
Broadcasting Legislation in Belgium
Broadcasting legislation in Belgium differs between the Flemish, French and German speaking communities. Licences will be granted to programme providers in the French and German communities. Licences in the Flemish community are granted to the multiplex operator. Simulcasting is allowed for the public services within the three Dutch, French and Flemish communities and there are no specific rules or conditions governing this. There is no specific legislation governing advertising, sponsorship and marketing on DAB digital radio broadcasting.
In Belgium, DAB(+) rollout is currently considered only to be broadcast in VHF Band III. Currently there are between one and three layers in operation in Band III (made of two regional multiplexes – for the Dutch and one for the French/German speaking parts of the country - and one commercial regional Flemish multiplex covering Brussels and surroundings. In future an extension of the commercial regional Flemish multiplex towards a community wide layer and a second regional French speaking layer, itself made of four provincial multiplexes, covering Brussels and Wallonia, are foreseen.
10.07.2015
Broadcasting legislation in Belgium differs between the Flemish, French and German speaking communities. Licences will be granted to programme providers in the French and German communities. Licences in the Flemish community are granted to the multiplex operator. Simulcasting is allowed for the public services within the three Dutch, French and Flemish communities and there are no specific rules or conditions governing this. There is no specific legislation governing advertising, sponsorship and marketing on DAB digital radio broadcasting.
In Belgium, DAB(+) rollout is currently considered only to be broadcast in VHF Band III. Currently there are between one and three layers in operation in Band III (made of two regional multiplexes – for the Dutch and one for the French/German speaking parts of the country - and one commercial regional Flemish multiplex covering Brussels and surroundings. In future an extension of the commercial regional Flemish multiplex towards a community wide layer and a second regional French speaking layer, itself made of four provincial multiplexes, covering Brussels and Wallonia, are foreseen.
29.09.2014
Broadcasting legislation in Belgium differs between the Flemish, French and German speaking communities. Licences will be granted to programme providers in the French and German communities. Licences in the Flemish community are granted to the multiplex operator and may have restrictions. Simulcasting is allowed for the public services within the three French and Flemish communities and there are no specific rules or conditions governing this. There is no specific legislation governing advertising, sponsorship and marketing on DAB digital radio broadcasting.
In French speaking Belgium, DAB, DAB+ rollout is currently considered only to be broadcast in VHF Band III. As for DAB, even L-Band could also be considered. Currently there is only one layer in operation in Band III (made of two regional multiplexes – for the Flemish and the French speaking parts of the country). There are plans to roll out a second layer, which would also be regional in the Flemish part of the country (Flanders and Brussels), and which would be a local layer (made of four multi provincial multiplexes) in the French speaking part of the country (Wallonia and Brussels).Tests for ultra-local DAB broadcasting throughout 2014 are ongoing to find efficient solutions for non-profit local radio stations.