News

2019 was a record year for DAB in new vehicles in the UK, with 2.38 million new cars and commercial vehicles hitting the road fitted with DAB digital radio as standard. DAB in new car registrations rose to a record 95% of all new cars in Q4 2019, while DAB in new commercial vehicles increased to a record of over 64%. This means that for the full year of 2019 there were 2.15 million new cars and 232,600 new commercial vehicles fitted with DAB as standard.

DAB Italia's 2020 development plan provides for increased coverage especially in the southern and island regions (Calabria, Sicily and Sardinia) with particular attention to the major road routes. DAB Italia will extend coverage to all provincial capitals not yet covered. The development plan also provides for increased coverage in Liguria and in the Apennine and Alpine ridges.

Czech Radio, which currently operates a multiplex covering approximately 80% of the population of Czech Republic, has announced its plans to increase the number of DAB+ stations offered on the multiplex in January 2020.

Serbian TV & radio network provider and DAB+ multiplex operator, ETV, has confirmed its plans to expand the ongoing trial DAB+ network in Serbia. ETV plans to extend coverage to all highways, with the deployment of an additional three transmitting sites in 2020.

According to the regional government of North Rhine-Westphalia, in northern Germany, the first frequencies available on the new private statewide multiplex will be made available in the first half of 2020. Up to 15 private radio stations are expected to be broadcast on the multiplex.

Two new DAB+ transmitters have gone live in Oberammergau and Hohenpeisenberg, Bavaria, helping to further improve DAB+ reception in Germany's southeastern state. Approximately 720.000 people are now able to receive DAB+ digital radio in Bavaria.

2020 is set to be another milestone year for digital radio in the United Kingdom, with digital listening expected to increase to over 60% of all radio listening. Ford Ennals, Digital Radio UK CEO, discusses how the government is working to support the development of the radio sector and the long-term transition to a digital future for radio in the UK.

This article outlines the different options available to car owners looking to retrofit DAB+ into their existing cars. Starting from December 21 2020, all new cars sold in Germany will include digital capabilities.

In light of the EU's new regulation mandating digital radio in new cars across Europe, DAB+ is set to take centre stage at the European Motor Show taking place in Brussels, Belgium, between 10-19 January 2020.

The regional government in Navarra, Spain, has advertised capacity for six DAB services on a future ensemble for the region, designated FU-Nav. Simultaneously, the government has advertised a total of 72 DAB licences across 12 ensembles, each of which will have local coverage.