Estonia

Last update: 29.07.2024 - older versions

In September 2023, the Tarbijakaitse ja Tehnilise Järelevalve Amet (TTJA) / Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority in Estonia sent out an invitation to market players and stakeholders to participate in a consultation to identify their interests and expectations regarding the introduction of digital radio and to plan the use of the 174-230 MHz band.

The results of the consultation 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."

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.