News

Reception of regional public and commercial stations via DAB+ has improved greatly in the Utrecht region

The electrical power operator Haugland Kraft in the south west of Norway will start DAB+ transmissions soon. Haugaland kraft will act as a network operator with its own transmitter network and will offer capacity in their DAB multiplexer to a number of local radio stations.

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Following consultation, the CSA has decided to revise the schedule of calls for candidacy to allocate DAB+ frequencies in France. Three major calls for applications are now planned: the first two, in July 2018 and at the latest in July 2019, will each focus on "fifteen zones centered on agglomerations of more than 175,000 inhabitants" and with a small number of local areas. The third call, envisaged mid-2018 this time will concern frequencies at the national level.

Updates from the Netherlands, Germany and Latvia on the expansion of DAB+. Reception of DAB+ for both commercial and public radio has recently seen a boost in the Utrecht, in the Netherlands. Media Broadcast has completed their plans to cover Germany as best they can, using 110 different mux transmitters. Whilst Latvia officially launched DAB+ testing in December 2016.

The number of local broadcasters trialing DAB+ transmissions is growing steadily in the Netherlands. DAB+ offers the opportunity for local stations to provide listeners with more content and in a better sound quality.

Regional radio stations that broadcast via DAB+ now have better coverage in the centre of the Netherlands. Channel Operator Broadcast Partners was commissioned by the radio stations that broadcast on the regional DAB+ network on channel 8A new aid station commissioned in Lopik.

The Norwegian Government has decided that the FM will be gradually switched off. The first FM transmitter will be switched off on 11 January 2017 in the region of Nordland. The process will be completed in December 2017.

Norway is the first country in the world to turn off analogue radio and switch exclusively to digital radio via DAB+. Many countries across Europe will be looking at Norway, when deciding on the future of radio in their country.

Bauer Radio is expanding its broadcasting network and has announced the launch of further digital radio stations in Norway. One of Bauer's new stations is Radio Norsk Pop, which focuses on Norwegian music. Norsk Pop can be heard on the nationwide DAB+ network.