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The South Tyrolean Civil Defence carried out a nationwide civil defence test alert in October. For the first time, the transmission of DLS scrolling texts and images via slideshows was used on all digital radio programmes DAB+ of the RAS and the local private stations. The scrolling texts and images were activated directly via the country's civil defence centre and broadcast on all RAS programmes. The information was broadcast on all channels and the test was successfully completed.

Dr Amal Punchihewa: In this review, we will critically analyse some selected technologies that are particularly relevant for the Asia-Pacific region. Radio plays a vital role in APAC. The Head of Radio at the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) mentioned that radio is still the most trusted form of media, and is the primary source of information in emergencies. APAC is prone to a wide range of disasters, which are increasing in frequency and magnitude. During IBC 2023, it was shared that in the German DAB market, there is now a stakeholder consensus for public emergency warnings over DAB+, a system tested recently during the latest German “Warntag” national warning day.

WorldDAB’s session at IBC explored the economic benefits and sustainable nature of DAB+ with inspiring success stories from around the world on how DAB+ is fuelling creativity, culture, enterprise and innovation. Watch this session to hear about the resilient and ever-evolving world of digital broadcast radio.

In March this year, the CREVEX complex exercise began, which has involved several months of exercises in different security and internal security agencies. Kadi Luht-Kallas, adviser to the Rescue and Safety Policy Department of the Ministry of the Interior, told Digigenius that the test, which will take place today at 19.30, can be said to be a quick pre-test for DAB+. "For up to 60 seconds, Klassikaraadio will be routed to the channel and a text about the test will be displayed, after which the radio itself should move back to the previous setting, but this may vary depending on the device," she described.

Deutschlandradio is participating in the third nationwide "Warning Day" with the programmes Deutschlandfunk, Deutschlandfunk Kultur and Deutschlandfunk Nova. All over Germany, sirens will be wailing at around 11 a.m., loudspeaker trucks will be driving through the streets, apps will sound the alarm, and public billboards will provide information. Public and private television and radio stations will also participate in the campaign, which is intended to test the "warning system" nationwide. For DAB+ receivers, a "flag" will be sent, which will allow radios equipped for the warning to switch on automatically or to switch to the Deutschlandradio frequency.

This year's nationwide warning day, which serves to test the different warning systems, will take place on 14 September 2023. On this day, starting at 11:00, a test warning in the form of a warning text will be sent to all warning multipliers (e.g. radio stations and app servers) connected to the federal government's Modular Warning System (MoWaS for short).At 11:15, a warning will be broadcast via the 10D test network of Bayern Digital Radio (BDR).

On 14 September, the next nationwide warning day, DAB+ digital radio will again be an important component, alongside cell broadcast, sirens and other warning means. The members of the Digital Radio Germany Association, i.e. ARD, Deutschlandradio, commercial broadcasters, manufacturers, network operators and state media authorities, have set themselves the goal of defining a new warning system based on the DAB+ data services. Compared to mobile radio, DAB+ is broadcast via transmission masts located at high altitudes, which remain available even in the event of a crisis when the mobile network is overloaded or fails due to severe weather.

Chris Leonard, president of the Hawaii Association of Broadcasters: "All of the (cellular) infrastructure was gone the night of the fires. I'm sitting in my house in Hilo yelling at my television at 11 at night as I'm watching a communications staffer from Maui County talk about the fact that all the the Internet is down, cell service is down, phone service is down, cable is down. I called almost all of the major radio groups on Maui the following morning. “Hey, are you guys all on? How late did you stay on last night? Are you aware of anybody else on the island that's off? And they said, “No, we were on we were on live until late in the evening.”

DAB+ is already loved by listeners for bringing them more of their favourite radio stations in digital quality. Now there’s another compelling reason – a new emergency warning function being developed in Germany could help save lives. DAB+ offers enhanced emergency warnings with precise targeting providing a reliable solution in crisis situations. Future radios will even wake from stand-by to alert people at night.

Just like they used to do with milk cartons, but in a digital version: the photo of Kata, the little girl who disappeared yesterday in Florence, now appears on many car radios thanks to the initiative of 24 local Tuscan radio stations in the Media DAB consortium. The initiative is intended to support the search for little Kataleya Alvarez; the radio stations have replaced the slides of the song covers on air with photos of the missing little girl, and the taxis of the Società Coop Tassisti Firenze (TAXI 4242), are tuned in to DAB+ on one of the radios, so that they can make their customers aware of the search still underway.