News

At the end of last year, the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate (EZK) announced that a special task force had been set up to optimise the frequency allocation for DAB+. Earlier it had already come to the fore that two scenarios had been developed for a more efficient division of the digital frequency space (DAB+).

“The transition to DAB has had a democratising and inclusive effect,” states Jan M. Moberg, CEO of Norwegian engineering magazine Teknisk Ukeblad (TU). In a column, Mr Moberg states that DAB and mobile networks that represent radio’s future in Norway, and that current difficulties facing the new DAB network will be rectified, at the expense of FM.

High-level radio executives from across the Middle East and North Africa attended the Week of Technology event last week in Tunis, to learn how new advancements can help the region embrace digital radio. Topics included the progress of digital radio via both the DAB+ and DRM standards, and the critical role for DAB+ in the context of developing 5G technology – however, it was the subject of the newly-published ETSI specifications, including significant development on non-Latin script, that delegates found most interesting.

Government representatives joined the broadcasting sector of Vietnam to learn more about DAB+ international progress, the latest technical developments, and how DAB+ can be further developed in Vietnam. Hosted by public broadcaster the Voice of Vietnam (VoV) in Hanoi this week, more than 30 high-level delegates were in attendance, including VoV President Nguyễn Thế Kỷ.

This new logo, free for industry players to promote DAB+ to listeners, will for the first time ensure the consistent commercialisation of DAB+ on an international scale. Available on the WorldDAB website, the logo will enhance DAB+ consumer recognition.

Available via the WorldDAB website, the logo — free to use for industry stakeholders in promoting DAB+ to listeners — promises to improve consumer recognition of DAB+ across borders. The logo replaces the black and white DAB logo, which had been in use for more than a decade.

Free to industry stakeholders for use in promoting DAB+ to listeners, the new logo will for the first time ensure consistent marketing of DAB+ internationally.

The Dutch Task Force looking at alternative frequencies for DAB+ in the Netherlands will meet again at the end of this month to discuss a proposed solution, in response to various complaints from the radio sector about the inefficient layout of different networks.

New technical guidelines have been announced in Italy to define minimum acceptable audio quality for drivers. The new regulations will take effect from 1 June next year, with further regulations requiring all new cars to be line-fit with DAB+ receivers by 1 January 2020.

A new logo will be used to promote DAB+ digital radio around the world.