News

RAS has completed the transition of digital radio stations from the DAB transmission standard to superior quality encoding DAB+. The DAB+ makes improvements to sound quality, the reception (free of interference, whether at home or on the road) and provides a greater range of stations up to 70.

By the end of 2016 more than 70% of the Italian population is reached by a DAB+ signal, with a concentrated coverage in major cities and along the most busy highways.

Standard equipment includes LED daytime running lights, a touchscreen infotainment system with both DAB radio and Smartlink for smartphone integration, 17ins alloy wheels, keyless go, Front Assist emergency braking and a leather steering wheel.

In Nordland, the first region in Norway to switch off FM, sales of DAB+ in car products have taken off. The company TT Micro, which nearly went out of business in 2015, predicts 2017 will be an exceptional year due to the transition to DAB. The company owns the brand Tiny Audio, and offers products specifically for the Norwegian market—namely DAB adapters for cars.

The DR 450 by Albrecht Audio is a hybrid alarm clock offering DAB+ digital radio, internet radio and bluetooth connectivity. The device is available now in stores for 199 Euro.

The Radiocommunications Agency (AT) has recently issued several new licenses for local trials with DAB+. Currently, there are already local DAB+ trials engaged in Vlagtwedde (East Groningen) Groenlo (Gelderlander) Emmeloord (Flevoland) and Vlaardingen (Zuid-Holland).

Titled "DAB+ expansion in Asia Pacific," the WorldDAB workshop will cover the latest developments in DAB+ digital radio, an introduction to hybrid radio, the business case for implementing DAB+ and the benefits of DAB+ in smartphones. Speakers include Joan Warner as well as Lindsay Cornell from the BBC, Les Sabel and Bernie O'Neill from WorldDAB, Nick Piggott from RadioDNS, and Jørn Jensen from NRK in Norway, the first country to switch off FM

WorldDAB has announced the line-up for its popular annual Digital Radio Workshop, taking place on Monday 6 March at ABU's 2017 Digital Broadcasting Symposium

Mats Åkerlund, Vice-Chair of the EBU New Radio Group and Head of Digital Strategy at WorldDAB member, Swedish Radio, has died after a short illness. Mats worked for more than 40 years at Swedish Radio, had several international assignments in radio, and was a valued member of WorldDAB. 

South Tyroleans can look forward to another digital radio station DRadio Wissen, which is coming on air on January 31 2017.