Sweden - Current situation - History
27.06.2018
DAB transmissions in Sweden started in 1995 and today coverage is 35% of the population with services from public service broadcaster Swedish Radio (SR) and commercial radio. The licence under which SR operates is valid until 31 December 2019 and commercial broadcasters operates under licenses that are valid until 30th September 2022.
- On December 1st, 2014 the Digital Radio Industry Co-ordinator appointed by the Government put forward a switchover plan from FM to DAB+. The full report (in Swedish) can be downloaded (Swedish) at http://www.regeringen.se/rattsdokument/statens-offentliga-utredningar/2014/12/sou-201477/
- In June 2015, the Government decided not to proceed with the transition from FM to DAB+. This followed the publication of a report into digital radio by the National Audit Office in April 2015.
- On 3rd February, 2016 the Swedish Parliament discussed digital radio – with the Parliamentary Constitutional Standing Committee (KU) issuing a formal response to the Government's letter about the National Audit Office's April 2015 report into digital radio.
- In September 2017 the political party (C) writes in response to a motion: "Let's do as Norway and introduce DAB radio now". (C) writes that the former government decided to introduce DAB, but notes that the current government has decided not to switch to digital radio. (C) finds that "a possible change of technology requires a more thorough analysis to make an informed decision. DAB provides a wider choice of radio channels across the whole country at a lower distribution cost, but the transition also means costs for the individual”, they conclude.
As a result, the decisions about the digitalization of radio in Sweden remains to be taken. The Government have said that the question could be re-opened, depending on the development of digital radio in the rest of Europe – especially experiences from the switchover in neighbouring Norway.
25.09.2017
DAB transmissions in Sweden started in 1995 and today coverage is 35% of the population with services from public service broadcaster Swedish Radio (SR) and commercial radio. The licence under which SR operates is valid until 31 December 2019 and commercial broadcasters operates under licenses that are valid until 30th September 2022.
Over the years several propositions have been put forward to the Swedish Parliament suggesting a larger digital radio network rollout for public service broadcaster SR. This is seen as the first step to a switchover from analogue FM to digital DAB/DAB+.
- On 2 October 2014 the Swedish Broadcasting Authority awarded 21 national and 4 local/regional DAB+ licenses for commercial broadcasters. Licenses are valid until 30th September 2022.
- On December 1st, 2014 the Digital Radio Industry Co-ordinator appointed by the Government put forward a switchover plan from FM to DAB+. The main purpose was to digitalize is to further develop radio in Sweden and to maintain and modernize a critical information infrastructure able to reach every citizen. The full report (in Swedish) can be downloaded (Swedish) at http://www.regeringen.se/rattsdokument/statens-offentliga-utredningar/2014/12/sou-201477/
- In June 2015, the Government decided not to proceed with the transition from FM to DAB+ which had been proposed in a report published in December 2014. This followed the publication of a report into digital radio by the National Audit Office in April 2015.
- On 3rd February, 2016 the Swedish Parliament discussed digital radio – with the Parliamentary Constitutional Standing Committee (KU) issuing a formal response to the Government's letter about the National Audit Office's April 2015 report into digital radio.
- In September 2017 the political party (C) writes in response to a motion: "Let's do as Norway and introduce DAB radio now". (C) writes that the former government decided to introduce DAB, but notes that the current government has decided not to switch to digital radio. (C) finds that "a possible change of technology requires a more thorough analysis to make an informed decision. DAB provides a wider choice of radio channels across the whole country at a lower distribution cost, but the transition also means costs for the individual”, they conclude.
As a result, the decisions about the digitalization of radio in Sweden remains to be taken. The Government have said that the question could be re-opened, depending on the development of digital radio in the rest of Europe – especially experiences from the switchover in neighbouring Norway.
15.02.2016
In June 2015, the Government decided not to proceed with the transition from FM to DAB+ which had been proposed in a report published in December 2014. This followed the publication of a report into digital radio by the National Audit Office in April 2015.
On 3rd February, 2016 the Swedish Parliament discussed digital radio – with the Parliamentary Constitutional Standing Committee (KU) issuing a formal response to the Government's letter about the National Audit Office's April 2015 report into digital radio.
As a result, the decision taken last summer remains unaltered. However, both the Government and the Committee have said that this decision may be reviewed, depending on the development of digital radio in the rest of Europe - especially in neighbouring Norway. Read more here.
On December 1st, 2014 the Digital Radio Industry Co-ordinator appointed by the Government put forward the switchover plan. The main purpose to digitalize is to further develop radio in Sweden and to maintain and modernize a critical information infrastructure able to reach every citizen. The plan consists of three parts: a mutual launch, extension of the licenses for commercial radio actors to broadcast analogue, and a conditional shutdown of FM transmissions. The full report (in Swedish) can be downloaded at www.regeringen.se/sb/d/18245/a/250902. View the press release at http://www.regeringen.se/content/1/c6/25/08/67/3a1847d5.pdf. A two page summary in English is available at http://www.regeringen.se/sb/d/8317/a/250945.
Over the years several propositions have been put forward to the Swedish Parliament suggesting a larger digital radio network rollout for public service broadcaster SR. This is seen as the first step to a switchover from analogue FM to digital DAB/DAB+. On 2 October 2014 the Swedish Broadcasting Authority awarded 21 national and 4 local/regional licenses for DAB+. Licenses will be valid from 2nd October 2014 until 30th September 2022 and broadcasting was to begin no later than 1st October 2015. Private radio has asked for permission to delay the launch.
DAB transmissions in Sweden started in 1995 and today coverage is 35% of the population with services from public service broadcaster Swedish Radio (SR). The licence under which SR operates is valid until 31 December 2019.