News

Ten regional DAB+ multiplexes were launched on 13 July with a ceremony in Hanover. Twelve non-profit and non-commercial community radio programmes have not yet been switched on, however, because their financing requires a change in the law. Prof. Christian Krebs, Director of the Lower Saxony State Media Authority (NLM), explained the background to RADIOSZENE. Anja Linz and Wolfram Bäse-Jöbges from the State Association of Citizens' Media are confident that all community radio stations will also reach listeners via DAB+ from 2024.

OIV, (Transmitters and Communications Ltd.) the Croatian network provider of national strategic communications infrastructure, is expanding its DAB network. The new equipment/licenses will cover one additional area with national and regional services. Johan Ericsson, Sales Manager, Paneda said: “We are very happy to see that DAB is expanding in Croatia. The existing long-term agreement between our organisations is very important for Paneda for our further development, by sharing experiences about DAB in general and development of DAB in Croatia in particular.”

The final two locations from Round 4 of the small-scale DAB licence roll-out have been awarded by Ofcom. Both areas, one for East Fife, and one for Berwickshire and North Roxburgh, have been awarded to Lanarkshire based C.I. Broadcasting Ltd and its subsidiary company Tower DAB Ltd. C.I. Broadcasting’s Director Spencer Pryor told Radio Today: “We’re extremely pleased that OFCOM have decided to award these licences to us to give us the opportunity to increase DAB coverage in two very underserved areas."

Ofcom will announce which areas will form part of Round 6 in the small-scale DAB licensing process this autumn following feedback from potential applicants. After a recent call for expressions of interest, input from stakeholders was received in 65 locations. Ofcom also received requests from stakeholders to re-advertise four areas for which no applications were submitted when originally advertised. Requests for new small-scale DAB areas for the Scottish Highlands and for the Orkney Islands were also received, along with a small number of other requests to add areas to the small-scale DAB advertising programme.

There are 34 applications for Round 5 of Ofcom’s small-scale DAB radio multiplex licence process, plus three for re-advertised areas. Of the total 37 areas, only six received more than one application. They are West London, South West Sussex, South London, South Hertfordshire, North London and North East London/South West Essex. From the six with multiple, there are three applications for South London and three for North London, whilst the others have two each.

Ofcom has published several updates on its work to support the launch of a wider range of ultra-local digital radio stations across the UK. So far, Ofcom has made 86 licence awards. From Edinburgh to Exeter, some 30 multiplexes are now on the air, between them transmitting 213 different stations, the majority of which are new to broadcast radio. Ofcom's fifth round of small-scale DAB licensing covers the South East of England. It received 34 applications for the 32 small-scale DAB radio multiplex licence areas, which were advertised in March. All applications will now be assessed against the specific statutory criteria, and it expects to announce the successful applicants next year.

WorldDAB has commissioned an independent report on the development and implementation of small-scale DAB in markets around the world. The report, by Dr Lawrie Hallett of the University of Bedfordshire, seeks to document for the first time the global development of this innovative approach to DAB transmission, and to analyse the different current implementations, including technical, financial and regulatory models. It may also offer for consideration possible next steps to support its continued growth. The project framework document is designed to set out the initial approach to the topics to be covered by the report, and a timeline for delivery.

Frontier has launched FS2260 Magic X, a next generation SmartRadio (sometimes called hybrid radio) module combining state of the art module design, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, with market-leading Frontier DAB/DAB+ technology offering a comprehensive user-listening experience. Magic X offers internet radio, podcast, DAB+, FM, Bluetooth, and iOS/Android app control, amongst other features. The module is suitable for a range of audio applications including table top radios, clock radios, micro-systems, portables, and wireless speakers.

Digital terrestrial radio (DAB+) continues to roll out across France. After Clermont-Ferrand, listeners in Angers can now tune in to digital terrestrial radio and rediscover Forum, the 'collector radio' that broadcasts listeners' favourite hits from the 90s and 2000s... "DAB+ makes listening to the radio simpler and better. As with FM, reception of DAB+ radio is completely free," explains Groupe 1981.

On 13 July, the Council for Electronic Media passed a Decision based on the 'Notice of Intention to Grant Concession No. 05/23 for the provision of digital radio media services - DAB+'. Radio Slavonija from Slavonski Brod was chosen as one of the two most favorable bidders in this round - a regional media with a 25-year tradition, which with this licence became a leader in this part of Croatia, but also far beyond - at least when it comes to all local radio stations in the territory of the Croatian Republic.