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Switzerland

Last update: 27.06.2024 - older versions

On 27 June 2024, the Swiss public broadcaster, SRG SSR announced it would cease FM broadcasting by the end of the year. It noted that "Around ten years ago, the Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM), private radio stations and the SRG began working closely together to plan the transition from FM to DAB+. The predictions made at the time - that DAB+ would become the new radio standard - have been borne out: the proportion of people who listen to radio exclusively via FM has now stagnated at less than 10%. From 2020, the industry will no longer be obliged to broadcast radio programmes using this technology, and maintaining three parallel broadcasting technologies is costly. The SRG Board of Directors has therefore decided to stop broadcasting SRG radio programmes via the now obsolete FM antennas on 31 December 2024."

Digital radio use in Switzerland has grown steadily since 2015: radio use via IP has increased from 26% in 2015 to 39% in 2023, while use via DAB+ has almost doubled in this period (2015: 23%, 2023: 41%). In German-speaking Switzerland, DAB+ is the most frequently used reception channel at 43%, while IP is ahead in French-speaking Switzerland at 41%. Half of radio listeners, or 45% of the population, only use digital reception channels, compared to 10% of the population who only listen to radio via FM. Around 31% use both. The proportion of people who do not use radio at all is 12%. This means that digital radio use has stabilised at a high level. As new cars are equipped with DAB+ as standard, in-car use will also become increasingly digital.

Read the Ofcom Switzerland press release

Swiss DAB+ Broadcast Networks Factsheet

A new factsheet on DAB+ digital radio in Switzerland has been produced for automotive manufacturers as the country prepares for FM switch-off.

The factsheet from WorldDAB - the global industry forum for digital radio - was produced as part of the work of its Automotive Working Group, in partnership with DIGIMIG, the Swiss body for DAB digital radio, and RadioDNS which promotes hybrid radio.

Swiss DAB+ Broadcast Networks

Last extension of FM licenses by two years

Radio programmes can be broadcast on FM until the end of 2026. At its meeting on 25 October 2023, the Federal Council extended the FM licences due to expire in 2024 for another two years. This will give broadcasters more flexibility to successfully migrate from analogue to digital radio.

By revising the Ordinance on the Use of the Radio Frequency Spectrum (RFSO), the Federal Council has made it possible for existing FM radio licences to remain valid beyond their current expiry date until the end of 2026. Radio broadcasters can also choose to discontinue analogue broadcasting before then; they have not been required to broadcast on FM since 2020. Radio broadcasters had originally planned to discontinue FM broadcasting by the end of 2024 at the latest. This last extension to the end of 2026 gives them the opportunity to find individual solutions to successfully complete their migration from FM to digital radio.

Read the OFCOM press release

Last update: 15.04.2020 - older versions

Digital radio on DAB+ in Switzerland reaches over 99% of the population (outdoor 99%, indoor over 96%). 99% of the roads are covered, including high way tunnels.

The latest commissioning is published as news on www.broadcast.ch.

Further resources on DAB+ coverage in Switzerland

Broadcast.ch Reception Card

Reception in Switzerland

SwissMediaCast Coverage Maps

Last update: 21.06.2022 - older versions

In this country there are

Regional multiplexes: 11 Regular
Local multiplexes: 17 Regular

on air.

Swiss DAB+ Broadcast Networks Factsheet

A new factsheet on DAB+ digital radio in Switzerland has been produced for automotive manufacturers as the country prepares for FM switch-off in 2024.

Swiss DAB+ Broadcast Networks

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.

Because of the structure of four languages, in Switzerland, there are no national multiplexes. Four of the seven language regional multiplexes are run by the public broadcaster SRG SSR since 1999. The first commercial DAB+ multiplex was launched by SMC in October 2009 in the German part of the country, the second one (ROM) at the end of 2013 in the French speaking part. Since December 2020 SMC runs a second language regional multiplex in the italian speaking part of Switzerland (Ticino). SMC also runs four regional multiplexes since December 2012. The first local multiplex (Geneva region) started in May 2014 in particular for non-profit radios. Today 17 so-called “local DAB+ islands” are on air in bigger agglomerations of the whole country, all run by Digris.

For an up to date list of services on air please visit:

For further information about DAB+ in Switzerland, please visit:

Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM)

DABPlus, the Communication Campaign

All programs are distributed on internet as well, and in addition, there are 78 internet only services.

	Simulcast on AM / FM	Exclusive on digital	Total of services
DAB+ programmes	54	70	124
Data services	0	1	1
Total	54	71	125

Last update: 26.02.2021 - older versions

99% of new cars in Switzerland now with DAB+ as standard

99 percent of all new cars are now equipped with a DAB+ radio as standard. Despite the pandemic-related slump in car sales, in 2020 the number of passenger cars equipped with DAB+ increased by 275,000 to just under 2 million vehicles.

DAB+ usage in cars

DAB+ could be received in 42 per cent of all vehicles at the end of 2020; at 47 per cent, reception via DAB+ is higher than via FM (45%), and overall digital use (including the internet) stands at 55 per cent.

Last update: 01.11.2021 - older versions

5.7 million DAB+ radios sold

In 2020, just under 600,000 DAB+ radios (including car radios) were sold.

According to the six-monthly surveys of electronics stores conducted by the market research institute GfK, a total of 5.7 million DAB+ devices have been sold since 2000. This indicates coverage of about one and a half devices per household.

There is also a clear upward trend in DAB+ equipment in vehicles: 99 percent of all new cars are now equipped with a DAB+ radio as standard.

Last update: 26.08.2021 - older versions

Digital switchover

Swiss radio broadcasters will shut down FM as originally planned on 31 December 2024, according to a press release published by Digimig, the Swiss broadcaster working group on digital migration, on 26 August 2021. On the same date, FM radio licences expire. From that date onwards, radio programmes will no longer be broadcast via FM. With the return to the original switch-off date, consumers have more time to switch technology.

In 2014, Swiss radio broadcasters agreed to stop broadcasting on FM by 2024 at the latest. At the end of 2020, almost three quarters of radio listening was digital, and the radio industry decided that an early and staggered shutdown of the FM stations in August 2022 (SRG) and in January 2023 (private radio) would be responsible. 42 out of 44 of Switzerland's radio broadcasters and the public broadcaster SRG agreed on this.

A public debate on FM switch off took place in 2021. In the German-speaking and Italian speaking regions of Switzerland, the vast majority of radio broadcasters remained in favour of the early shutdown of VHF, however not in French-speaking Switzerland. Since a nationwide solution is needed, radio broadcasters returned to their original plan of switching off the FM stations by 31 December 2024.

Key features of regulation for digital radio in Switzerland are:

Band III
National multiplexes
All stations are on DAB+
In 2013 stand-alone Band III ensembles were authorised by the regulator in the main conurbations, intended as a DAB+ platform for the smaller, non-commercial broadcasters
On December 1st 2014 radio market players presented to the regulator a detailed digital switch over plan
In 2016, it was decided that all services in the future should be DAB+
OFCOM holds the spectrum licence
In mid-February 2012, OFCOM awarded a broadcast licence to Romandie Médias SA to operate a further DAB+ network in French-speaking Switzerland. The new platform, which has a capacity of up to 18 DAB+ stations, went on air in April 2014.
The SRG licence includes the operation of a DAB multiplex and transmission network in Band III. The transmitter sites are operated by Swisscom Broadcast, but SRG is responsible for the planning of the network, signal generating and multiplexing.

Last update: 03.10.2024 - older versions

Over the past few years, a number of campaigns have launched in Switzerland on national TV and radio, to help promote DAB+ and inform listeners, drivers and consumers of the benefits of digital radio.

Current campaign

In order to encourage listeners to switch to digital reception at home and in the car, a multi-year information campaign was launched on 4 May 2020. It is intended to support the audience with information and assistance during the upcoming FM phase-out. The campaign will include TV and radio spots, social media activities, out-of-home advertising, measures for equipment dealers and car dealerships, plus a helpdesk to advise the public. The campaign will run until the final FM switch-off.

Last update: 08.04.2019 - older versions

Switzerland is also a pioneer in DAB/DAB+ tunnel rebroadcast systems. There are currently eight tunnels equipped and the plan is to cover up to 200 tunnels using 100 head ends and 1,000 transmitting sites. Emergency voice break-in, signal levels, system design and interfaces are also going to be specified.

The emergency alerting system in Switzerland for disasters today primarily relies on sirens (for “wake-up”) and Swiss Radio (for delivering the information). Swiss Radio currently broadcasts via VHF as well as via DAB+. Information can also be displayed on TV on banners and teletext, although this was only used once so far. In addition to this, cantons and municipalities are free to add their own channels for their official information (e.g., Twitter or Facebook).

In the next years, additional channels will be added. As of 2018, emergency alerts, warnings and information will also be published via the smartphone App “Alertswiss”, and the Website www.alertswiss.ch . As of 2019, further channels shall be added.

Regarding DAB+ in particular, the Federal Office for Civil Protection (FOCP) has undertaken different technical assessments and studies. Swiss Post, in collaboration with FOCP, has developed and successfully tested a prototype of a smart letterbox display that can show governmental information in case of an emergency. This information can be transmitted via DAB+. See also: https://youtu.be/kfTu4C7G3-Y

80% of radio use in Switzerland is digital

09.02.2024 - OFCOM Switzerland WorldDAB Member - Switzerland

Digital radio use has grown steadily since 2015: radio use via IP has increased from 26% in 2015 to 39% in 2023, while use via DAB+ has almost doubled in this period (2015: 23%, 2023: 41%). In German-speaking Switzerland, DAB+ is the most frequently used reception channel at 43%, while IP is ahead in French-speaking Switzerland at 41%. Half of radio listeners, or 45% of the population, only use digital reception channels, compared to 10% of the population who only listen to radio via FM. Around 31% use both. The proportion of people who do not use radio at all is 12%. This means that digital radio use has stabilised at a high level. As new cars are equipped with DAB+ as standard, in-car use will also become increasingly digital.

(OFCOM Switzerland) Read more

New licences for 38 local radio and regional television stations

11.01.2024 - OFCOM Switzerland WorldDAB Member - Switzerland

The Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC) has issued 38 licences to local radio and regional television stations for the period 2025 to 2034. In the "Overview of licence holders", it notes: "In contrast to the current broadcasting licences, from 2025 onwards only licences giving entitlement to a share of the licence fee will continue to be granted. With digital broadcasting via DAB+, frequencies are no longer a scarce resource, as was the case with FM broadcasting. From now on, local commercial radio stations in urban areas and the Swiss Plateau which had a licence not giving entitlement to a quota will only have to register with the Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM), and will no longer have to fulfil a performance mandate."

(OFCOM Switzerland) Read more

Music radio expands DAB+ broadcast area

05.01.2024 - Switzerland

After extensive planning work, Sunradio - Best international Music, based in the Bernese Oberland, is further expanding its terrestrial broadcasting area on DAB+. Sunradio has already been broadcasting in the Bernese Oberland in collaboration with network operator Digris since 2018. Now the Bernese Mittelland and large parts of the canton of Solothurn are being added, as the music station announces. "After careful financial considerations and detailed clarifications, we are taking this step for the next two years, 2024 and 2025. In mid-2025, we will then weigh up the options and analyse the situation again. However, the goal is clearly a longer-term DAB broadcast in this attractive transmission area," Sunradio operator Stefan Grünig is quoted as saying.

(persoenlich.com) Read more

Last extension of Swiss FM licences by two years

25.10.2023 - OFCOM Switzerland WorldDAB Member - Switzerland

Radio programmes can still be broadcast on FM until the end of 2026. At its meeting on 25 October 2023, the Federal Council extended the FM licences due to expire in 2024 for another two years. This will give broadcasters more flexibility to successfully migrate from analogue to digital radio. The Federal Council has made it possible for existing FM radio licences to remain valid beyond their current expiry date until the end of 2026. Radio broadcasters can also choose to discontinue analogue broadcasting before then; they have not been required to broadcast on FM since 2020.

(OFCOM Switzerland) Read more

Paneda awarded by SWISS TXT, a subsidiary of SRG SSR in Switzerland

13.09.2023 - Paneda WorldDAB Member - SRG SSR WorldDAB Member - Switzerland

SRG SSR in Switzerland launched its first DAB multiplexing platform in 2005. Today the SRG SSR DAB multiplexing platform runs in the four language regions with 18 services in each region. It is now time to re-engineer the platform. In stiff competition with high technical demands, SWISS TXT, a subsidiary of SRG SSR, selected Paneda. Paneda will provide a complete DAB platform containing 4 multiplexers including audio encoding, realised with the latest software based containerised technology. The order also covers monitoring components for ETI and EDI signals. All systems are provided with full redundancy and in addition also a full test platform.

(Paneda) Read more

Key figures for DAB+ in Switzerland

01.09.2023 - Switzerland

Radio in Switzerland has never been as digital as it is today. Over 79% of the population listen to digital radio, while 8% still listen exclusively to FM radio. 48% listen to more than just digital radio, and 11% listen to no radio at all. These figures can be explained by developments in equipment. By the end of June 2023, DAB+ programmes could be received in 54% of vehicles on the road in Switzerland. A DAB+ device is installed as standard in 99.9% of all new vehicles.

(La Lettre Pro de la Radio) Read more

Switzerland listens to digital radio - now just 8% listening to FM only

31.08.2023 - OFCOM Switzerland WorldDAB Member - Switzerland

Digital use of radio continues to increase in all regions, age groups and listening locations in Switzerland. Almost 70% of radio listened to in the car is now via digital channels. This was announced by the Digital Migration working group (DigiMig WG) at Swiss Radio Day on 31 August 2023. Of all radio minutes listened to in Switzerland, 81% are digital. Around half of these (41%) are listened to via DAB+ and the other half (40%) via the internet. In the first half of 2023, 245,600 new DAB+ devices were added in Switzerland, bringing the total stock including vehicles to approximately 6.7 million. 54 percent of all passenger cars in Switzerland are now equipped with DAB+.

(Ofcom Switzerland / DigiMig WG) Read more

Ready for the winter season 2023: SwissMediaCast extends DAB+

25.07.2023 - SwissMediaCast AG WorldDAB Member - Switzerland

The DAB+ stations of the Swiss-German layer OCH 02 of SwissMediaCast will in future be available in Klosters, Davos, Arosa and Lenzerheide. The two transmitters in Davos and Klosters were switched on on 22 June 2023. The transmitter in Mon for coverage of Lenzerheide and Albula/Alvra will follow on 3 August 2023. The transmitter in Arosa is planned for 7 September 2023. This means that another important tourist region will be supplied with DAB+.

(SwissMediaCast) Read more

Swiss Federal Councillor proposes final extension of FM to 2026

15.07.2023 - Switzerland

Swiss Federal Councillor Albert Rösti will propose to the full Federal Council a "final" extension of the current FM broadcasting licences until the end of 2026. On 13 July, the Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM) informed the radio associations of this proposal, pointing out that some broadcasters had experienced local and regional problems in recent months that required individual solutions. "OFCOM is currently examining the possibility of extending FM radio licences until 2026 and will prepare an amendment to the corresponding legislation for this purpose", explained OFCOM spokesman Francis Meier. The Federal Council will probably decide by the end of 2023 whether it wishes to approve this extension, he added.

(RTS Radio Télévision Suisse) Read more

Phare FM continues its DAB+ rollout

10.07.2023 - Switzerland

This summer, Phare FM is inaugurating the sixteenth broadcasting zone in Geneva for the station, which describes itself as "the leading Christian music radio station in the French-speaking world". Since 21 June 2023, Phare FM has been broadcasting on DAB+ in the canton of Geneva, the Pays de Gex and (part of) the French Genevan area as far as Lausanne. This opportunity to broadcast to the southern tip of Lake Geneva represents the potential for almost 900,000 additional people to be able to listen to Phare FM.

(La Lettre Pro de la Radio) Read more

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Key Information

Status:	regular
Population:	8.7 million
Population coverage:	99.5%
Services:	124 DAB+, 1 Data
New cars with DAB/DAB+ as standard:	99%
Total Sales (cumulative):	5,694,000 devices
Last update: 01.11.2021

Useful Links

DABPlus
SwissMediaCast (SMC)
Romandie Médias
Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM)
SRG Broadcast
Digris