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Estonia

Last update: 22.01.2025 - older versions

In January 2025, the Tarbijakaitse ja Tehnilise Järelevalve Amet (TTJA) [Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority] launched a public call for tenders for frequency licences for digital radio services. The TTJA says: "The objects of the competition are three frequency licences in the 174-225 MHz band for nationwide use. A maximum of three frequency authorisations may be obtained by one applicant. Winners will be selected on the basis of a ranking, with the bids with the highest population coverage winning. The licensee must build up a digital radio broadcasting network and provide broadcasting services to radio stations no later than one year after the licence is granted." Details of the licences are available on the TTJA website.

This process followed a consultation, the results of which were published in March 2024. This stated: "it is clear that there is market interest in digital radio... According to the state, the introduction of digital radio will create an additional opportunity for radio programme owners to get their own programmes on air. Today, there are more potential radio programmes than the FM frequency resource allows, and a choice has to be made between radio programmes. Digital radio, with its additional frequency resource, would help to overcome this problem and diversify the Estonian media landscape."

The consulation summary sets out a planned timetable for further activities: "As the feedback from the public consultation showed reasonable market interest in the uptake of digital radio, the State plans to move forward with the competition for frequency licences. As a next step, it is planned to develop a ministerial decree for the public frequency tender. The development of the ordinance and its coordination with market participants will take place in the second to third quarter of 2024. The public call for tender will take place and frequency licences will be issued in the fourth quarter of 2024.

"As there is interest from the market, the trial period for digital radio will be extended. The length of the trial period will depend on how soon after the public tender and the frequency authorisations are issued the digital radio will actually be launched."

The TTJA's website has also published information on the 174-225 MHz band for coordinated radio transmitters.

DAB+ trials from 2022

DAB+ digital radio is currently in a trial phase in Estonia, allowing market players and listeners to try out the new technology.

The Tarbijakaitse ja Tehnilise Järelevalve Amet (TTJA) / Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority in Estonia published a common set of principles for testing digital radio, which will allow market players to test the new technology until the end of 2023.

Levira, in cooperation with Duo Media Networks and Mediainvest Holdings, has now started testing DAB+. The first DAB+ transmitter was launched in Tallinn TV tower on 28 November 2022 at 15.20, The signal from the Tallinn and Pehka transmitters will be broadcast on DAB+ channel 10A and the Koeru transmitter will be on 7A.

On 22 December 2022, the Koeru transmitter extended digital radio coverage to Central Estonia. A DAB+ transmitter will start operating in the Haljala municipality of Pehka in early 2023.

Currently in the ensemble managed by Levira, 14 radio stations can be heard on DAB+, and the ensemble is now full. Duo Media Networks' radio stations Raadio Elmar, Raadio Kuku, Raadio MyHits, Raadio Duo, Narodnoe Radio, DFM and new digital-only stations Duo Gold, Duo Greatest Hits and Elmari Tantsuõhtu, as well as Star FM Eesti, Klassikaraadio, Äripäev Raadio, Tre Raadio and Power Hit Radio are testing digital radio.

In May 2023, a new ensemble was launched for testing by Duo Media Networks in the second biggest Estonian town of Tartu, and the third biggest, Pärnu. The ensemble currently includes seven stations from Duo Media Networks: Raadio Elmar, Raadio Kuku, Raadio MyHits, Raadio Duo, and new digital-only stations Duo Gold, Duo Greatest Hits and Elmari Tantsuõhtu, as well as religious stations Pereraadio and Semeinoje Eli. Additional stations are expected to be added in the near future.

The three Levira ensembles and two Duo Media Networks ensembles together now cover 75% of the Estonian population.

Last update: 07.09.2023 - older versions

Regions: Harju county (including Tallinn), Järva county (Koeru), Lääne-Virumaa county (Pehka), Pärnu county (Pärnu) and Tartu county (Tartu).

Coverage of population: aprox. 75 %

Coverage of territory: aprox. 45%

In this country there are

Regional multiplexes: 3 Trial

on air.

	Simulcast on AM / FM	Exclusive on digital	Total of services
DAB+ programmes	25	14	39

Last update: 27.11.2023 - older versions

The Tarbijakaitse ja Tehnilise Järelevalve Amet / Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority in Estonia has announced a common set of principles for testing digital radio, which will allow market players to test the new technology until the end of 2023.

The trial period will run until 30 June 2024, and more detailed principles can be found here.

Levira, in cooperation with Duo Media Networks and Mediainvest Holdings, has now started testing DAB+. The first DAB+ transmitter was launched in Tallinn TV tower on 28 November at 15.20, The signal from the Tallinn and Pehka transmitters will be broadcast on DAB+ channel 10A and the Koeru transmitter will be on 7A.

On 22 December 2022, the Koeru transmitter extended digital radio coverage to Central Estonia. A DAB+ transmitter will start operating in the Haljala municipality of Pehka in early 2023.

Currently, 26 radio stations can be listened to on DAB+, with more to follow soon. Duo Media Networks' radio stations Raadio Elmar, Raadio Kuku, Raadio MyHits, Raadio Duo, Narodnoe Radio, DFM and new digital only stations Duo Gold, Duo Greatest Hits and Elmari Tantsuõhtu, as well as Star FM Eesti, Klassikaraadio, Äripäev Raadio, Tre Raadio and Power Hit Radio are testing digital radio.

In May 2023 a new ensemble was launched for testing by Duo Media Networks in the second biggest Estonian town, Tartu and the third biggest town, Pärnu. The ensemble currently includes 7 stations from Duo Media Networks: Raadio Elmar, Raadio Kuku, Raadio MyHits, Raadio Duo, and new digital only stations Duo Gold, Duo Greatest Hits and Elmari Tantsuõhtu, as well as relegious stations Pereraadio and Semeinoje Eli additional stations will be added in the near future.

The first trial of DAB multiplex was held from 2000-2005.

Estonia's first ever Ukrainian-language radio station launches this Friday

14.11.2023 - Estonia

This Friday sees the launch of Estonia's first ever Ukrainian-language radio station. "DRUZI" is a new platform that bridges two cultures, allowing audiences to enjoy Estonian and Ukrainian music as well as providing news and information. With more than 120,000 Ukrainian refugees arriving in the country since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion last February, Estonia's Ukrainian diaspora has quadrupled. To listen, set up your car radio to digital DRUZI radio (DAB+).

(ERR News) Read more

Estonian Radio 2's new digital radio channel offers alternative pop around the clock

12.10.2023 - Estonia

In October, Radio 2 launched a new sister series - the digital radio channel R2 Altpop. The chatter- and commercial-free channel features alternative pop all day, every day. The R2 Altpop DAB channel plays alternative music from Estonian and foreign artists. Digiradio R2 Altpop is R2's first test channel of its kind, free of news, chat and mainstream music. The Altpop channel is suitable for listeners who want a change from chart hits. DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting) is the standard for digital radio broadcasting. To listen to a DAB channel, you need a device with DAB+ signal reception support. Most newer cars have DAB+ reception, and some radios support it. The R2 Altpop channel can be found alongside other DAB channels.

(ERR Eesti Rahvusringhääling) Read more

DAB+ emergency warning test in Estonia

19.09.2023 - Estonia

In March this year, the CREVEX complex exercise began, which has involved several months of exercises in different security and internal security agencies. Kadi Luht-Kallas, adviser to the Rescue and Safety Policy Department of the Ministry of the Interior, told Digigenius that the test, which will take place today at 19.30, can be said to be a quick pre-test for DAB+. "For up to 60 seconds, Klassikaraadio will be routed to the channel and a text about the test will be displayed, after which the radio itself should move back to the previous setting, but this may vary depending on the device," she described.

(Digigenius) Read more

Estonia regulator TTJA launches public consultation on digital radio

15.09.2023 - Estonia

The Tarbijakaitse ja Tehnilise Järelevalve Amet (TTJA) / Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority in Estonia has sent out an invitation to market players and stakeholders to participate in a public consultation to identify their interests and expectations regarding the introduction of digital radio and to plan the use of the 174-230 MHz band. "Through this public consultation, we want to identify the interests and expectations of all stakeholders in the field of digital radio," said Erko Kulu, Head of the Frequency Management Unit of the TTJA. DAB+ digital radio is currently in a trial phase in Estonia, allowing market players and listeners to try out the new technology. The test period will last until the end of 2023.

(Tarbijakaitse ja Tehnilise Järelevalve Amet (TTJA)) Read more

Testing of digital radio in Estonia will continue until the end of the year

29.06.2023 - Estonia

The testing period for the DAB+ digital radio service, which started at the end of last year, is extended until 31 December 2023. Digital radio test transmitters are operating in the Tallinn TV Tower, in Koeru and in Pehka in Haljala Rural Municipality. Duo Media Networks has also installed test transmitters in Pärnu and Tartu. "The tests confirm that the new generation digital radio is much more advanced. Signal quality and availability in the planned coverage area sometimes even exceeded expectations. We intend to launch the transmitter on the Valgjärve mast in the autumn, fulfilling the initial plan to create a test opportunity for the entire Tallinn-Luhamaa route. One of the reasons for extending the testing period is listener interest and positive feedback - many people want to listen to digital radio in their cars, especially in summer," said Cristo Kaasan, Levira's Director of Technology and IT.

(Postimees) Read more

New Russian-language radio station in Estonia

07.06.2023 - Estonia

As of June 1, 2023, a new radio station, Radio Nostalgia, was introduced to the Estonian airwaves. The station is unique in that it does not broadcast on FM, but on the digital format DAB+, which is new to Estonia. The music playlist on Nostalgia Radio consists of the good old hits from the '70s, '80s, '90s, '00s and songs from recent years in Russian, Ukrainian, Estonian, English, Italian, Spanish and other languages.

(Delfi) Read more

Duo Media Networks launches transmitters in Tartu region

11.05.2023 - Estonia

Since the end of last year, digital radio has been broadcast in Harju County, Järva County and Lääne-Viru County, and now Duo Media Networks has added transmitters in Tartu County and Pärnu County. This means that more than 70% of Estonia's population can now listen to the new generation of radio. Risto Rosimannus, CEO of Duo Media Networks, said: "The digitalisation of radio offers a lot of opportunities for listeners. "Firstly, the sound quality will improve, secondly, the coverage will improve significantly and thirdly, the choice of radio stations will increase," said Rosimannus. In addition to the launch of two transmitters in Tartu and Pärnu, Duo Media also launched three new digital radio stations in cooperation with the Swedish company RAZ Media: Elmari Tantsuõhtu, Duo Greatest Hits and Duo Gold.

(Postimees) Read more

Second DAB+ multiplex in Estonia

08.05.2023 - Estonia

A second DAB+ project has started in Estonia. The company Duo Media Networks OÜ has put its own multiplex on the air. The following programmes are broadcast: Raadio KUKU, Radio ELMAR, MyHits, HAPODHOE RADIO, DFM Tallinn, Raadio Duo. Since 30 April, the service has been broadcasting from the Tartus transmitter on channel 5A and the Pärnus transmitter on channel 6A.

(SatelliFax) Read more

Digital radio coverage extended to Lääne-Virumaale

12.01.2023 - Estonia

Levira's DAB+ digital radio transmitter started operating on 11 January at the Pehka transmitter station, as a result of which the coverage area of digital radio now extends not only to Tallinn and Central Estonia, but also to Lääne-Viru county. Thanks to the transmitter in Haljala municipality, digital radio can now be listened to in almost all of Lääne-Viru County. On the Tallinn-Narva highway, digital radio reaches as far as Aseri and beyond under favourable conditions. Currently, 11 radio stations can be listened to on DAB+: Raadio Elmar, Raadio Kuku, Raadio MyHits, Raadio Duo, Narodnoe Radio and DFM, as well as Star FM Eesti, Klassikaraadio, Äripäev Raadio, Power Hit Radio and Tre Raadio.

(Levira) Read more

Koeru transmitter extends digital radio coverage to Central Estonia

22.12.2022 - Estonia

This morning, Levira's DAB+ digital radio transmitter started operating at the Koeru transmitter mast, with its 300-metre-high antenna extending the digital radio test area from Tallinn to central Estonia. Levira, in cooperation with Duo Media Networks and Mediainvest Holdings, is testing DAB+, a digital radio service widely used in Europe. The first digital radio transmitter was launched at the Tallinn TV Tower on 28 November, and after Koeru, a DAB+ transmitter will start operating in the Haljala municipality of Pehka in early 2023.

(Levira) Read more