Norway

Last update: 08.04.2020 - older versions

In Norway, 99.7% of the population has access to DAB reception. Public broadcaster NRK has 99.5% population coverage. Commercial stations have 92.8% coverage.

DAB network covers the same percentage of the population as the largest FM-network, and the commercial network reaches out to a large population. Tunnels have DAB-coverage from 2016, and all tunnels that require FM-coverage, will be equipped with DAB. All new tunnels longer than 500m will have DAB.

A coverage map can be found on the Digitalradio Norge website. (Enter address or choose postal zipcode and your requested channel, and the map will show the coverage of the relevant area. An orange colour indicates strong signals.)

A video showing some of the challenges of building a DAB network covering all of Norway`s challenging topography can be seen on the "Hva er digitalradio?" website.

Last update: 17.10.2022 - older versions

In this country there are

• National multiplex: 1 Regular
• Regional multiplexes: 7 Regular
• Local multiplexes: 7 Regular

Please note:

(a)    These web pages are updated regularly to reflect current services on air, however they may not be exactly up to date.

(b)    The logos shown on these pages are for illustrative purposes only – manufacturers and broadcasters are directed here for information on implementing station logos.

A full listing of the services on air in Norway is available at http://radio.no/dekning/#networks. There are 32 nationwide channels, 18 commercial and 15 public.

NRK's stations are distributed through their own regionalised DAB network.

There are a number of different local networks available all over the country. The number of local networks and transmitters is increasing.

In the national and regional networks, both DAB and DAB+ are transmitted. By 2017, all stations are transmitted in DAB+. The local DAB networks utilise DAB+ only.

Slideshow

NRK broadcasts Slideshow (SLS) on all of its stations except for the low-bitrate weather station. The slideshows contain images of album covers, DJs, traffic information.

Both P4 and Bauer radio groups broadcast Slideshow on their DAB services as well.

TPEG traffic data

There is one TPEG service on air from the commercial broadcasters on the national ensemble “Riks.

The regional multiplexes (NRK)

NRK has 7 regional multiplexes, adding up to a nationally covering network that reaches 99.8% of the population. NRK has 15 services in total. Two out of these 10 share the day between them. The main channel, NRK P1 has localised content in each region some parts of the day. In each region, there are three local versions of this station (each region covers 2 or 3 counties). The other stations are similar across the country.

The commercial networks

• “RIKS”

The commercial national network has a coverage of 92.8% and contains 18 commercial services, two SPI services and one TPEG service.

• “RIKS 2”

The second commercial national network with a planned coverage of 80% contains so far 9 commercial services. The network consists of 17 transmitters (as of October 2022).

The local networks

In Norway, there are 37 regions for local DAB transmissions. An overview of the regions and the frequencies used can be found here. One operator is given a licence in each region, and this operator must offer DAB capacity openly, and at equal terms to all stations. In October 2022 there were 33 active local DAB networks with, in total, 145 transmitters. Licenses for the local DAB networks are awarded until December 31st, 2031. 

The number of local networks is increasing and there are ongoing building of transmitters for local DAB networks.

Last update: 07.03.2023 - older versions

All new cars sold in Norway come equipped with digital radio capabilities.

According to the Nielsen Audio report from January 2021, 71% of the population had access to DAB radio in their car in 2020. This is up by four percentage points from 2019. Of those, 90% say they listen to DAB radio at least once a week while in their cars, while almost half, listen to it on a daily basis.

Norway DAB+ Broadcast Networks Factsheet

A new factsheet on national DAB+ digital radio in Norway has been produced for automotive manufacturers. 

Manufacturers of DAB+ radio receivers can use the information provided in this factsheet to test their devices. ETI Files from NRK are always up to date with the latest ensemble configuration and can be downloaded from WorldDAB’s ETI library.

The factsheet from WorldDAB - the global industry forum for digital radio - was produced as part of the work of its Automotive Working Group, in partnership with Norwegian public broadcaster NRK.

Norway DAB+ Broadcast Networks

Last update: 22.06.2021 - older versions

In Norway, cumulative DAB/DAB+ receiver sales as of Q4 2020 stood at 7,000,000 (including line-fit automotive)

DAB sales penetration by population in Norway in 2018 was 88% by household. Sales of DAB receivers including in-car products have been increasing steadily since their introduction into the market in 2009 when 63,000 were sold, compared to the 667,000 units sold in 2014.

In 2020, a total of 500,000 DAB+ radios were sold in Norway (200,000 of these for cars).

Last update: 24.03.2020 - older versions

Norway currently operates regular DAB+ services.

Last update: 08.04.2020 - older versions

The swtich-off of national FM services in Norway was carried out in 2017.

Key features of regulation for digital radio in Norway are:

• Digital radio services are broadcast on Band III
• All major FM-channels are broadcast on DAB
• Broadcasting in Norway is regulated according to the Broadcasting Act/Law which gives NRK the right to broadcast nationally. Licences for the commercial broadcasters have been issued up to 2014.There is one national DAB multiplex in use today, seven regional ones (with total coverage corresponding to the national multiplex) plus 6 local multiplexes. One DMB multiplex is in use in the greater Oslo area (trial).The regional multiplexes are operated by NRK, and together they have a total coverage of 99.5%. This coverage is similar to the coverage of the national multiplex.
• The commercial multiplex uses 12D for the entire country
• There are also other multiplexes regulated for use in Norway including an additional commercial national mux, using 11A and 12A

Last update: 15.04.2020 - older versions

Information to the public is co-ordinated, and partly performed, by Digitalradio Norway which is owned by public broadcaster NRK, P4 Group and Bauer Media.

Ongoing campaigns to inform the public about the transition to broadcast digital radio have mainly used the radio as their medium. These have frequently been on air on commercial radio stations and on NRK's radio and TV-channels. Digitalradio Norway also operates www.radio.no, which includes news, DAB coverage maps, how-to articles and videos, as well  as information about the growing DAB channel selection in Norway. Digitalradio Norway also uses promoters whose role is to visit car and electronic dealers and advise on DAB and assist on any marketing activities.

To encourage commercial companies to maximise their efforts in promoting digital radio, commercial radio broadcasters offer copromotion opportunities, with on-air DAB-related campaigns which have proven to be very effective in increasing the awareness of DAB with consumers. The main focus is on ensuring availability of DAB in-car adaptors and securing a network of competent installers, and this focus is reflected in marketing and information activities.

Link to information films, broadcast on NRK and commercial TV-station. http://radio.no/digitalisering/utvider-radiotilbudet/ (in norwegian).

Information film about digital radio

Mythbuster webpage

Myths and mistakes continue to emerge in the discussion of DAB. Visit this page  to see the facts which Digitalradio Norway collected.

Last update: 27.06.2018 - older versions

All relevant tunnels in Norway  have DAB-coverage. Contrary to FM, where only a few channels have tunnel coverage, all channels on the outside of a tunnel will be available also on the inside.

In an emergency situation, the Road Authorities will be able to transmit messages on all DAB stations broadcast into the tunnel, from the outside of the tunnel or from the operations central.  This will effectively mean a higher security for all travellers in road tunnels, as messages will reach all radio listeners - not only those listening to a specific channel. In Norway there are approximately 260 road tunnels with broadcasting integrated today. At FM shutoff all of these will have DAB and accordingly all new tunnels longer than 500 meters with annual traffic over 5000 vehicles.