Sweden

Last update: 02.03.2022 - older versions

The Swedish DAB network (mux 1) is operated by Teracom AB and covers the cities Stockholm, Södertälje, Uppsala, Enköping, Luleå, Malmö and Göteborg using a multi-frequency network on frequencies 12C and 12B. The coverage of mux 1 is currently 41.8% of the population or about 3 million people. 

Mux 1 holds 8-10 regular and licensed services, all from Swedish Radio. All services in mux 1 are currently broadcast in DAB. All audio services hold DLS.

The Swedish DAB+ network (mux 2) is operated by Teracom AB under a specific test license and covers major cities Stockholm, Uppsala and Gävle using a multi-frequency network on frequencies 12C and 12D. Coverage reaches 27% of the population or about 2.5 million people. Mux 2 currently holds 9 pilot services from several major broadcasters (MTG radio and SBS radio), as well as some local community radios. All services in mux 2 are broadcasted in DAB+. All audio services hold DLS and SLS.

Visit the Teracom website  for coverage maps.

Last update: 03.03.2021 - older versions

In this country there are

• National multiplex: 1 Regular
• Regional multiplexes: 4 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.

Mux1: 10 DAB+ audio channels from public service broadcaster Swedish Radio, including event channels that are only broadcast at specific months/weeks. In total there are 6-7 DAB services on air at any given time, one of which is simulcast on FM. Most of the other DAB+ channels are available online, but not broadcast on FM. All audio channels carry DLS and Slideshow. In addition, a trial version of TPEG is being broadcast.

Event channels

• Christmas channel
• Summer channel
• Eurovision song contest channel
• Classical music channel

Mux 2: 9 DAB+ audio channels from the major commercial radio groups, including NENT and Bauer Media. Four of them simulcast on FM nationwide. The rest of the DAB+ channels are available online, or very locally on FM. One channel, Lugna Favoriter, is only available online, and not broadcast on FM. All audio channels carry DLS and Slideshow. In addition, a trial version of TPEG is being broadcast.

Future Services on Air

The Swedish Broadcast Authority have announced licenses for commercial digital radio. A total of 25 stations have been awarded a license. 21 of which are national licenses and four are regional stations. 12 of the national stations are unique to digital radio and not broadcast on FM. The licensing allows for a significant increase in range of stations throughout Sweden.

Licenses will be valid from 2nd October 2014 until 30th September 2022 and broadcasting is to begin no later than 1st October 2015.  

More information is available here. Private radio has asked for permission to delay the launch.

Feature of services on air in Sweden

“P4 Bjällerklang” is a pop-up station playing “the most beloved and popular Christmas songs” in both familiar and unexpected versions, around the clock on digital radio (DAB) and on the web. The channel exists in December and January and is now broadcasting for the fifth year in a row. This is a good example of a pop-up station that uses the flexibility of the DAB/DAB+ standard to meet occasional listener demands.

“Knattekanalen” is a children’s station playing “new music mixed with familiar
songs and children’s pop from all times”. The channel broadcast in DAB and on the web each day
from six o’clock in the morning till eight at night. Children and their parents know that when they want to listen to children’s programs, there is always something on.

Last update: 08.03.2022 - older versions

In Sweden, 84% of new cars sold in 2021 have DAB+ as standard (Source: JATO Dynamics 2022).

Last update: 14.07.2015 - older versions

Sales in 2013 were 15,000 receivers which means the accumulated sales 2006-2013 is 37,000 receivers.

27,000 of these units are dated from 2012 and onwards, i.e. capable of DAB+ decoding. In comparison the 15,000 units sold per year is almost 4% of the total sales in Home and Portable Audio segment.

Given the estimated 27,000 DAB+ units, the household penetration in Sweden today is appoximately 1%.  

Last update: 30.09.2014 - older versions

In 2009, pilot transmissions of DAB+ started and the coverage quickly reached 22% of the population with 16 trial services from public service radio, commercial radio and community local radio.

Last update: 02.03.2022 - older versions

The Swedish Press, Radio and Television Authority MPRT has been commissioned by the Swedish government to review the conditions for commercial radio in the longer term (Ku 2021/01993). In dialogue with relevant actors, including the industry, the authority plans to analyse the need for any changes in the regulations for licensing.  According to the MPRT website, the review timeline is as follows:

• May 2022 - publish an interim report with survey and analysis of digital radio development in Europe and analysis of market in Sweden
• Autumn 2022 - submit a draft report analysing the need for possible changes
• December 2022 - report to the Ministry of Culture

Key features of digital radio regulation in Sweden are:

• Band III 
• One MUX in big cities only
• Switch-off date is to be set for analogue radio migration to DAB+
• Cost of parallel transmission on analogue and digital to be supported by the Government
• Industry co-ordinator has been appointed by the government to assure a transition by 2022

Regulation for Commercial Radio

In October 2012, all major commercial broadcasters applied for a total of 22 licences in both national and regional VHF Band III networks. The licenses for digital commercial radio were valid from September 2, 2014 to September 20, 2022. All license holders requested suspension with the broadcast start and referred to the uncertainty about whether there is a transition from analogue to digital radio and when such a possible transition can occur. Bauer Media AB, NRJ Sweden AB and Norrköping Radio & Co AB requested further suspension with the launch. MPRT granted them suspension until January 1, 2020 and adjusted the condition of phase expansion. MRTV stated that there would be no requirements on bit rate per service. However, the maximum number of services per commercial multiplex would be 16. The commercial license holders were obliged to co-operate 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.

Regulation for Public Service Radio

The public service broadcaster, Swedish Radio (SR), got their license directly from the Government. The license period was six years valid until 31 December 2019 allowing Swedish Radio to broadcast digital radio using DAB/DAB+ in VHF Band III, but only to four regions in Sweden (Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmo and Norrbotten) and with a maximum number of nine services (Stockholm and Norrbotten) or 10 (Gothenburg and Malmo). 

Spectrum for DAB/DAB+ digital radio

At the spectrum conference GE-2006 Sweden was awarded a total spectrum equivalent to of 4 nationwide DAB/DAB+ multiplexers in Band III. Three of the four multiplexes are MFNs (making regional insertion possible up to the maximum of 34 available frequency layers). In 2010 the Swedish Government awarded two of the four multiplexers (spectrum-wise) to public service radio and remaining two multiplexers to commercial radio.

Last update: 19.08.2019 - older versions

Following the launch of regular DAB+ in Sweden, a website dedicated to DAB+ developments in Sweden was launched in August 2019 -  http://dabplus.se/

Last update: 30.09.2014

Sweden has an Emergency Warning System using FM/RDS (PTy31) to send an alert flag making it possible for receivers and transmitters to change audio to the emergency channel, Swedish Radios channel P4. It is not unlikely that this feature will be imposed on a digital system.