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A new SIRTI study showed that 94% of French people consider that access to terrestrial radio (FM or DAB+) is a universal right. The study also found that only 23% of mobile listening took place on smartphones, but that this figure is expected to grow as awareness increases that radio listening is possible on smart devices.

93% of French people consider that access to wireless radio (FM or DAB+) must remain free, according to a study conducted on behalf of the Union of Independent Radios (SIRTI).

The pilot operation of the new DAB+ standard was put into fixed service in Austria on Wednesday, as confirmed by the Digitalradio Österreich. The national expansion will then follow in further stages. Digitalradio Österreich chairman Wolfgang Struber: "Another important step in the development of radio is the interoperability of digital radio receivers (receiving DAB+ and FM programs)."

In Austria the first regular broadcasts of DAB+ have been started. In the Vienna region, 12 radio stations can be received on channel 11C. The regional multiplex is operated by Radio Technical Center, which received a license from KommAustria at the beginning of the year.

Electric windows, a radio and alloy wheels are not included on the Access model, although stepping up to Ambience or Laureate trim brings more creature comforts. The former is available for an £800 premium over the standard car, bringing DAB radio, Bluetooth connectivity, manual air-conditioning and front electric windows.

The digital radio standard DAB + has been in regular operation since Wednesday, according to the association Digitalradio Österreich. Still pending is the award of the second tendered, nationwide license.

Regional public broadcaster Radio Wrocław has teamed up with Wrocław University of Science and Technology and Poland’s National Institute of Telecommunications (ITL) to establish a single frequency DAB+ network for small and local broadcasters in the city of Wrocław and vicinity.

The Avalon N5 breaks with the design of other Pure products, and is wrapped in a woven wool housing a custom-designed, dual-voice, 2-way loudspeaker, supported by two passive radiators, equipped with an amplifier delivering 20 Watts RMS. The unit also includes a 3.5mm jack headphone output and an auxiliary input for connecting a wired source. One of its great strengths is its portability, via an optional ChargePAK.

A new DAB+ operation begun in Vienna on Tuesday, located at the DC-Tower from Vienna's Donau City, with a second location to complement the network at a date to be confirmed. Additional spare capacity has already been allocated to programs which are expected to expand the ensemble in May 2018 following a successful approval process.

The programme of work, delivered by communications infrastructure company Arqiva,has doubled the local DAB network, with new transmitters or modifications to 221 local DAB sites, boosting local DAB coverage from 72% to more than 90% of UK households. An additional 10 million listeners have been brought into DAB coverage for the first time, and over 4,000 miles of roads are now also covered.