Sweden - Current situation - History
28.11.2011
Following lengthy trials, Swedish Radio have stated their intention to switch their current DAB services to DAB+.
DAB transmissions started in 1995 and today reaches 35% of the population with 7 services from public service broadcaster Swedish Radio.
A new Radio and TV Act came into effect in August 2010 which, for the first time, allowed commerical radio companies to apply for digital licences. This paved the way for a radio industry united behind DAB+, something for which both public and commercial services have been lobbying for some time.
In 2011, the national authority for radio and television stated that the licensing process for commercial digital radio will now start. The strategy has been formed together with the Post and Telecom Agency following a public consultation. It states that the terrestrial network is an important distribution platform for radio and that digitalisation is needed to further develop the platform.
DAB+ is the preferred choice of technology and S
01.09.2011
Following lengthy trials by the public broadcaster, Sveriges Radio, DAB radio in Sweden is moving to DAB+.
DAB transmissions started in 1995 and today reaches 35% of the population with 7 services from public service broadcaster Swedish Radio.
A new Radio and TV Act came into effect in August 2010 which, for the first time, allowed commerical radio companies to apply for digital licences. This paved the way for a radio industry united behind DAB+, something for which both public and commercial services have been lobbying for some time.
In 2011, the national authority for radio and television stated that the licensing process for commercial digital radio will now start. The strategy has been formed together with the Post and Telecom Agency following a public consultation. It states that the terrestrial network is an important distribution platform for radio and that digitalisation is needed to further develop the platform.
In 2011, the national authority for radio and television stated that the licensing process for commercial digital radio will now start.
DAB+ is the preferred choice of technology and Swedish Radio have stated their intention to switch their current DAB-services to DAB+..
25.08.2011
Following lengthy trials by the public broadcaster, Sveriges Radio, DAB radio in Sweden is moving to DAB+.
Sveriges Radio, has been operating a DAB multipex since the mid 1990s, covering about 35% of the population but in 2005 the Swedish government halted digital radio investment due to low consumer takeup. The radio industry, however, remained committed to a digital future for Sweden and blamed the lack of consumer response on the fact that commercial radio operators were denied by law the opportunity to broadcast on DAB, thus limiting consumer choice. Both public and private broadcasters continued to lobby the government for a change of heart.
A new Radio and TV Act came into effect in August 2010 which, for the first time, allowed commerical radio companies to apply for digital licences. This paved the way for a radio industry united behind DAB+, something for which both public and commercial services have been lobbying for some time.
The Authority for Radio and Television has now decided on a strategy for licensing of digital commercial radio. The strategy has been formed together with the Post and Telecom Agency following a public consultation. It states that the terrestrial network is an important distribution platform for radio and that digitalisation is needed to further develop the platform. DAB+ is the preferred technology and the licensing process is expected to start in autumn 2011.
Some positions in the digital strategy:
The licenses will be decided in the form of a beauty contest. There will be only a smaller administrative fee for application and annual use of spectrum
The technology T-DAB and compatible technology should be used and DAB+ could further be specified in the license conditions.
The entire broadcast space that the government has dedicated to digital commercial radio, two multiplexers in band III, each divided in 34 regions, will be included in the licensing process.
It will be possible to seek licenses for both national and regional broadcasts. How many such permits granted and the breakdown between national and regional licenses will be determined after an overall assessment of the applications received in each region.
There will be no requirements in the license for an average minimum or maximum bit rate per service. Each applicant should state their capacity needs per service knowing that the starting point of licensing is that each transmitter can accommodate max 16 services @72 kbit/s each.
The license holders shall cooperate in technical matters including choice of network operator. Coverage requirements may be imposed to ensure that the digital broadcasts reach a certain proportion of the population within the broadcasting area.
Older news
In 2009, network operator Teracom began conducting tests of DAB, DAB+ and T-DMB which included programming from commercial, community and public service broadcasters, reaching two million people around Stockholm, Uppsala and Gavle.
The existing DAB multiplex remains on air, but with the country turning to DAB+ for future launches, it remains to be seen if Sveriges Radio with switch this mux to DAB+.