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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.

Radio Nacional de España begins DAB+ broadcasts

15.02.2024 - RTVE WorldDAB Member - Spain

Coinciding with the celebration of World Radio Day, 13 February, and the centenary year of radio in Spain, Radio Nacional de España, the country’s state-owned public service radio broadcaster, has started broadcasts in DAB+ in conjunction with Cellnex Telecom. The broadcaster intends to employ the DAB+ standard throughout the country and replace FM in the long term. A symbolic ‘switch-on’ of DAB+ took place in an informative day in Torrespaña, inaugurated by Verónica Ollé Sesé, director of the Cabinet of the Presidency of national broadcaster RTVE. “We’ve been watching Europe, learning from the experience accumulated by our neighbors over the last years, and are investing in a technology that helps guarantee the provision of a public service that is for everyone,” Sesé said.

(RedTech) Read more

Listen: RNE on DAB+: "No costs, no need to connect to the internet".

15.02.2024 - RTVE WorldDAB Member - Spain

Audio: LAS MAÑANAS DE RNE CON ÍÑIGO ALFONSO - RNE ya emite en DAB+: “Sin costes, ni tener que conectarnos a internet”. RNE is already broadcasting on DAB+. "Radio for everyone, at no cost, without having to connect to the internet", explained Javier Sánchez, telecommunications engineer and RTVE representative at WorldDAB on Las Mañanas de RNE. This is the first time that DAB+ has been broadcast in Spain, but this type of broadcasting is already established in other European countries.

(RTVE) Read more

Listen: RNE starts broadcasting on DAB+

15.02.2024 - RTVE WorldDAB Member - Spain

Audio: EN MENOS DE TRES - RNE inicia emisiones en DAB+. DAB+ finally arrives in Spain thanks to RNE. It was about time. And with it, radio in Spain begins its second century of existence by taking the great technological leap that it had yet to make. Because DAB+ has arrived to truly digitise what was still to be digitised: the mass distribution of linear radio content with free-to-air broadcasts. To listen to radio in digital quality without an internet connection and without subscriptions. Anytime, anywhere. With extra and more visual information.

(RTVE) Read more

Listen: RNE on World Radio Day

15.02.2024 - RTVE WorldDAB Member - Spain

Audio: A GOLPE DE BIT - Día Mundial de la Radio. We celebrate World Radio Day, accompanied by Ángel García Castillejo, director of audiovisual policies, public and international service at RTVE, and Javier Sánchez, head of strategy at RTVE's innovation centre. They tell us that Radio Nacional de España has started broadcasting in DAB+.

(RTVE) Read more

RNE makes DAB+ launch official

14.02.2024 - RTVE WorldDAB Member - Spain

On World Radio Day 2024, Spanish radio listeners in six cities can begin turning in to the future of radio in the country. In line with plans announced in December, Spanish public-service broadcaster RTVE threw a symbolic switch at the Torrespaña to officially launch new DAB+ services. Starting on 13 February, listeners in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, Murcia, and Bilbao can now tune DAB+ broadcasts of Radio Nacional and Radio 5, as well as Radio 3 in Valencia, Seville, Murcia and Bilbao. The new DAB+ channels join RTVE’s existing DAB broadcasts from Radio Nacional, Radio Clásica, Radio 3, Radio 5 and Radio Exterior in Madrid and Barcelona. Additional DAB+ services are slated to launch in other cities across Spain on a monthly basis, according to a RTVE announcement.

(Radio World) Read more

RTVE presents its renewed push for DAB+ in Spain

13.02.2024 - RTVE WorldDAB Member - Spain

RTVE has taken advantage of World Radio Day to present the reasons that have led the Spanish Corporation to launch DAB+ digital radio technology, a standard designed to "replace FM" in favour of quality and greater accessibility so that "radio will remain in the long term" among the preferences of Spanish citizens. Verónica Ollé, director of RTVE's presidential office, addressed the event, confirming that RNE, RNE 3 and RNE 5 will be part of this first deployment, together with four regional stations: Valencia, Seville, Murcia and Bilbao. Fernández Paniagua also provided new details of RTVE's plans with regard to DAB+: "We will start broadcasting in simulcast initially, and put into service four new stations that will provide coverage to a significant percentage of the population where, on an experimental basis, the digital radio services that RNE offers will be put into service with DAB+ technology".

(Panorama Audiovisual) Read more

World Radio Day 2024: Cars bring DAB+ to Spain

13.02.2024 - Spain

This 'World Radio Day 2024' is also different. Very different. Because the Corporación Radio Televisión Española (RTVE) has announced the "start of DAB+ digital radio broadcasts". A fact that will be further explained at an event to be held today, Tuesday, in Torrespaña. It was foreseeable that this news would come at some point, and today seems like a good day to announce it, and press the DAB+ button in Spain. García Castillejo estimated that, with the arrival of spring, there would be around three million receivers "on wheels" in Spain, referring to new cars that, according to a European Directive of the end of 2020, must include DAB and DAB+ receivers as standard, in addition to FM and, in some cases, OM. The considerable number of receivers justifies the activation of this channel, based on the concept of 'public service' that inspires the work of the Corporación RTVE.

(Gorka Zumeta) Read more

Spain's RNE to start broadcasting in DAB+

13.02.2024 - RTVE WorldDAB Member - Spain

Spain's RNE is to start broadcasting in DAB+, the broadcaster has announced on social media. "RNE starts broadcasting in DAB+. Follow the live presentation this Tuesday, February 13, at 12:00 CET on @rtveplay," it posted on X (formerly Twitter). WorldDAB's President, Jacqueline Bierhorst, will be speaking at the official launch, which takes place in Madrid on World Radio Day.

(RTVE) Read more

RTVE moving forward with DAB+ in 2024

18.12.2023 - RTVE WorldDAB Member - Spain

Spanish public-service broadcaster RTVE is looking to begin DAB+ broadcasts in early 2024. The move comes as the country marks 100 years of regular broadcasting in Spain. Although Spain did launch DAB services in Madrid and Barcelona in the 1990s, the technology was never widely implemented. However, in recent years, the number of DAB+ receivers in Spanish cars as grown substantially thanks to Europe-wide regulations requiring new automobiles to incorporate the technology. Speaking on a panel at Telcom 2023 in Madrid, Ángel García Castillejo, director of audiovisual policies, public and international service, for the Corporación de Radio y Televisión Española, said, “We estimate that, by spring next year, there will be three million DAB+ receivers on wheels in our country,” according to a report by Gorka Zumeta.

(Radio World) Read more

Navarre Government to award first 26 local DAB licences in Q1 2024

13.12.2023 - Spain

In the first quarter of 2024, the Government of Navarre - an autonomous region in the northeast of Spain - will award the first 26 DAB licences in the region, after the Evaluation Committee of the local DAB tender announced the evaluation of the 45 proposals received. There are 26 licences to be distributed in the following localities: Pamplona / Iruña (8 licences), Tudela (4), Estella - Lizarra (3), Altsasu / Alsasua (2), Baztan (2), Larraun (2), Lesaka (2), Tafalla (2) and Sangüesa / Zangoza (1).

(Gobierno de Navarra) Read more