News

Operated by Antenne Deutschland, Germany's new national multiplex will launch on 5 October and host a total of 16 commercial stations, including four of Antenne Deutschland's Absolut stations.

Germany is about to launch its second national multiplex; France is planning the launch of its national DAB+ services, and Switzerland has just revealed its plans for the phase-off of FM services. Using expert opinion from leaders in these three markets, this article lays out the status of DAB+ in these countries, and draws out the progress made by DAB+ across Europe, as the deadline of the EECC draws closer.

The European Electronic Communications Code (EECC), which entered into force on 20 December 2018, must be transposed into national legislation by EU Member States by 21 December 2020.

Frontier Smart Technologies has become the first company to receive the upgraded Digital Radio Tick Mark. The Digital Radio Tick Mark indicates to consumers that devices are tested and approved to meet the UK Government agreed specification for digital radios and are able to receive FM, DAB and DAB+ stations.

Luxembourg's Media and Communications Authority is working towards the launch of DAB+ digital radio. According to RTL, a trial DAB+ multiplex operated by their subsidiary BCE was launched on 18 September with the hope of a national DAB+ launch by spring 2021. RTL state that the motivation for launching DAB+ is to improve coverage and reception of existing radio stations, and to permit the launch of new radio programmes in Luxembourg, given the FM frequency is full.

The European Electronic Communications Code (EECC), which came into force on December 20, 2018, must be implemented in national law by the EU member states by December 21, 2020. This particularly applies to equipping new cars with DAB + receivers.

The European Electronic Communications Code (EECC), which entered into force on 20 December 2018, must be transposed into national legislation by EU Member States by 21 December 2020.

EU Member States have until 21 December 2020 to transpose the EECC into national legislation. Article 113, Annex XI states that “Any car radio receiver integrated in a new vehicle of category M which is made available on the market for sale or rent in the Union from 21 December 2020 shall comprise a receiver capable of receiving and reproducing at least radio services provided via digital terrestrial radio broadcasting.”

The WorldDAB Technical Committee's work ensures that receiver equipment and broadcast technologies are compatible, and its various Task Forces work continuously to upgrade and advance the DAB standards, keeping them in line with other technical developments, and future proofing DAB equipment.

The new proposed law put forward by political party Compromís - which aims to enable the development of DAB+ digital radio in Spain in line with the rest of Europe - did not gather any objections following its consultation. The proposal will now be debated at a Plenary sitting.