News

The DAB+ network in Austria is set to expand in 2019 with the launch of the new multiplex due to take place in May. The first set of the expansion will see almost 60% of the population covered by DAB+, with the following expansions plans in March and September 2020 set to increase that number to 83%.

Some of the topics brought to the table at the European Radio Show in Paris concerned DAB+ digital radio, which has now taken off in France, with two sessions entirely dedicated to it. A Volkswagen Touareg SUV equipped with a DAB+ Crooner Radio device was on display at the show.

Sangean has released two new DAB+ radios on the market - the WR-7 and DDR-7. Both receivers, which are part of Sangean's mini series, are now available from select retailers for 89 and 139 euros respectively.

Sonoro has been awarded the Plus X Consumer Electronics Audio brand of the year award for 2019. This marks the third time Sonoro has picked up this award after 2016 and 2018.

Factum Radioscape's ENMUXA will be the first DAB+ head end system in the Thailand. The redundant encoding, multiplexing and monitoring system is currently being installed in Bangkok and is expected to go on air in coming weeks.

40 applications were submitted to the CSA in November 2018 following the regulator's call for tenders, with a total of 24 places due to be available for broadcasters across the two national multiplexes expected to launch in early 2020. The CSA is due to announce its decision on 20 February 2019.

As an increasing number of European countries continue to recognise DAB+ as the single future platform for radio, this articles examines the basic principles for the transmission of DAB+ under ideal conditions, taking a closer look at different systems and procedures that have been put in place across different geographical locations including central Europe, Scandinavia and the UK.

Operator Radio Network Netherlands has started a non-commercial DAB+ experiment, the aim of which is to experiment as an operator with a DAB+ network in layer 6 for non-national commercial broadcasters.The operator wants to see how portable indoor coverage can be improved at several low installation points with low power, test different equipment and look at the costs of such a DAB network.

Following the launch of the regional DAB+ network operation for the eastern region of Austria in April 2018, the DAB+ network will be launching in Vienna on 28 May 2019, making more radio programs available across Austria, and marking the first of three phases in the expansion of the nationwide DAB+ multiplex in the country.

French broadcaster Crooner Radio has launched visual content on DAB+ receiver devices. The content - which includes information related to the song, artist and album that is being played, as well as weather forecasts and advertisements, amongst other things - is available in the cities of Paris, Lyon, Strasbourg, Nice and Lille, with more expected to follow in coming months.