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Last update: 19.07.2024 - older versions

Radio Nacional de España begins DAB+ broadcasts

Coinciding with the celebration of World Radio Day and the centenary year of radio in Spain, Radio Nacional de España has started digital radio broadcasts in DAB+ together with Cellnex Telecom on 13 February 2024, with the firm intention of deploying this digital radio standard in our country, which is set to replace FM in the long term.

You can listen to the following broadcasts on DAB+:

- Radio Nacional and Radio 5 in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, Murcia and Bilbao.

- Radio 3 in Valencia, Seville, Murcia and Bilbao.

These broadcasts are in addition to the existing DAB broadcasts of Radio Nacional, Radio Clásica, Radio 3, Radio 5 and Radio Exterior in Madrid and Barcelona.

On a monthly basis, RNE's offer on DAB+ and the coverage of the service will be progressively increased, starting broadcasts in other Spanish cities.

On 19 March 2024, Radio Nacional, Radio 3 and Radio 5 launched on DAB+ in the metropolitan area of Santiago de Compostela. On 18 April 2024, DAB+ broadcasts launched in Pamplona; on 17 May 2024, in Santa Cruz de Tenerife; on 18 June 2024, in Mijas, covering Málaga, Torremolinos, Benalmádena and Fuengirola; and on 18 July 2024, broadcasts started in Mallorca, from Cellnex Telecom's broadcasting centre in Alfàbia.

Once deployed throughout Spain, DAB+ will allow Radio Televisión Española to provide the public radio broadcasting service in the terms currently entrusted to it by law, providing maximum geographical and social coverage, with the best quality and additional services specific to DAB+ and with free-to-air broadcasts and free reception.

Regional DAB+

In January 2020, the regional government in Navarra advertised capacity for six DAB services on a future ensemble for the region, designated FU-Nav. Simultaneously, the regional government advertised a total of 72 DAB licences across 12 ensembles, each of which will have local coverage.

In Mallorca, a multiplex licensed by the Autonomous Government of the Balearic Islands began broadcasting in February 2024, broadcasting four stations from the Serra de Alfabia.

In July 2024, The Govern de les Illes Balears will implement, through DAB+ technology, IB3's digital radio in the first quarter of 2025. The Balearic Islands becomes the first Autonomous Community in which all three radio coverage (local, regional and national) will be offered in DAB+.

Last update: 18.04.2024 - older versions

RNE DAB+ services are on air in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, Murcia, Bilbao, Santiago de Compostela and Pamplona.

These broadcasts join the existing ones on DAB in Madrid and Barcelona.

RNE will increase monthly its content offer and coverage on DAB+ until the end of 2024.

RNE coverage: > 30% population

Rest of national stations: 20% population

Last update: 04.03.2024 - older versions

In this country there are

National multiplexes: 3 Regular

on air.

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 total of 18 DAB and 4 DAB+ legal audio services are on air, but enhanced features as text, images or programme guides are not available.

	Simulcast on AM / FM	Exclusive on digital	Total of services
DAB programmes	17	2	19
DAB+ programmes	3	0	3
Total	20	2	22

Last update: 04.03.2024 - older versions

In Spain, 98% of new cars sold in 2023 have DAB+ as standard (Source: JATO Dynamics 2023).

Last update: 04.03.2024 - older versions

Almost a 5% of digital radio receivers sold in retailers includes DAB/DAB+ receiver, although no DAB/DAB+ national promotion has been carried out.

It is estimated that nearly 3 million cars already have a DAB/DAB+ receiver in Spain.

Last update: 21.10.2019 - older versions

Spanish Broadcaster Radio Maria (http://www.radiomaria.es/) started DAB+ test transmissions in Madrid and Barcelona on 2014 December 30th.

This is the first time DAB+ has been used for radio broadcasting in Spain. This DAB/DAB+ network is operated by the Broadcast Network Operator Cellnex Telecom.

Last update: 04.03.2024 - older versions

National station licenses are issued by the central government, while local and regional licenses are the responsibility of the regional government. Licenses are valid for 15 years with an automatic renewal for a further 15 years. Advertising and sponsorship are permitted under the same rules which exist for analogue radio, and data is permitted on up to 20% of multiplex capacity.

Digital Audio Broadcasting is allowed by law in Band III.

There are three layers of services set out by law:

National, with 1 SFN multiplex and 2 MFN multiplexes
Regional (Comunidad Autónoma basis), with 1/3 SFN multiplex (nowadays without transmissions) and 2/3 MFN multiplex (not implemented)
Local, with 237 areas covered by different frequency blocks in Band III

Nowadays, due to the entry into force of the Digitalization Plan for Terrestrial Broadcasting, DAB services are on air only to cover a 20% of the Spanish population (Madrid and Barcelona including their metropolitan areas). It is the minimum population coverage required by the current National Technical Plan for Digital Audio Broadcasting.

RNE is providing DAB+ services covering a percentage of the population above that minimum.

JBL Tuner, the three in one: FM radio with DAB+ and Bluetooth, Portable

10.07.2018 - Spain

In addition to FM reception, with the ability to receive RDS information (text from the station for example), the JBL Tuner has DAB. This type of emissions is equivalent to television DTT: it uses a traditional channel to send packaged digital signals.

(Tuexperto) Read more

Subaru Outback Executive Plus S

04.05.2018 - Spain

For connectivity systems, the new Subaru has a new 8-inch screen to link the phones through Apple Car Play and Android Auto. There is DAB+ digital radio, bluetooth connectivity, auxiliary connector and several USB, also in the rear seats with two new sockets.

(Hoy) Read more

Pure Siesta Home

01.05.2018 - Pure - Spain

The Pure Siesta Home has an FM radio tuner compatible with the DAB and DAB+ digital systems, it has Bluetooth to send music from your mobile.

(Xataka Home) Read more

Yamaha RX-V485

28.04.2018 - Spain

This receiver is actually a variant of the Yamaha RX-V485. In that the built-in analogue radios are FM and AM, and in this model the AM radio is changed by a digital DAB.

(Tuexperto) Read more

Spanish politician Carles Mulet calls on government to pursue DAB+

07.04.2018 - Spain

Spokesperson for Spain's Compromis Party Carles Mulet has called for the country's government to pursue a digital agenda, aimed at the digitisation of radio in Spain. He cited the examples of Norway, Switzerland, France and the UK and their governments pursuing a process to increase DAB services as what Spain should follow.

(Guiade la Radio) Read more

The evolution of DAB+

21.03.2018 - Spain - Austria

TEA FM's Chusé Fernández reflects on Radiodays Europe 2018, including on the Norwegian switchover workshop held last Sunday.

(Gorkazumeta) Read more

DAB threatens the oligopoly of the Spanish radio industry

13.03.2018 - Spain

According to Professor Mateo Burgos García of the Polytechnic University of Madrid, there are three major points to explain why digital terrestrial radio is not definitively promoted in Spain, also known as the DAB, or its evolution the DAB+.

(Gorkazumeta) Read more

Videos: analog FM switch-off in Sudtirol and ways to promote digital radio

05.03.2018 -

- Spain

Norway was the first country to switch off FM in Europe. Far from intimidating other countries, others are following the game and proposing FM blackouts to promote emissions in DAB +. Recently FM is starting to be turned off in Sudtirol, where RAS has been turning off FM transmitters since December.

(MPM Space) Read more

Subaru Forester 2018

07.02.2018 - Spain

The interior also receives some minor updates with more modern materials, a color LCD screen with new graphics and an audio system with DAB + radio with Subaru Starlink.

(Motor Pasion) Read more

Regulatory indications show FM will not stay forever

05.02.2018 - Spain

A noteworthy fact that gives an idea of the magnitude of DAB+ implementation is that public broadcasters of multiple European countries have already put on the air 369 stations in DAB and DAB+, of which 97 are not available in FM.

(Gorkazumeta) Read more