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The growing interest in DAB+ in Germany is reflected in the growing number of digital radio receivers, with over 1.4 million sold in Germany in 2018 alone. Population coverage in the country stands at 98%, and more and more private broadcasters are aiming to make their brand future-proof through DAB+.

For the first time, DAB+ listeners in Italy can tune in to the BBC World Service in English. Thanks to an agreement with DAB+ multiplex provider Eurodab Italia, the network’s rich mix of BBC News, documentaries, business, sports, arts and science programmes are now available across the country.

The official launch of DAB+ in Nantes, France, is set to take place at the Hotel Mercures Nantes gare on 4 July 2019. The president of the French regulator CSA, Roch-Olivier Maistre, is expected to attend the launch event.

"We are very proud that BBC World Service has chosen the EuroDAB digital network to broadcast its content in Italy,” declares Lorenzo Suraci, President of EuroDAB Italy - “and it is evident that the professionalism and passion with which we do our work is also perceived outside of our country. It improves and extends the offer of the contents of our bouquet and helps the radio, in general, in an increasingly global world."

Transmitter operator Norkring has improved the reception of the two commercial DAB+ networks in northeastern Flanders, Belgium. A total of 21 radio stations can now be received on the two commercial DAB + networks.

Starting from the 1 January 2020, all new radio receivers released in Italy will have to include DAB+ digital radio as standard. This applies to domestic radios as well as in-car radios. The number of DAB+ receivers in Italian homes and cars is estimated at 4.3 million.

The impressive growth and development of DAB will be covered during WorldDAB Automotive 2019, WorldDAB’s annual event that seeks to promote the uptake of digital terrestrial radio in cars across Europe. This year’s event will take place on Thursday June 20 at the Lingotto Centre in Turin, Italy, with over 200 senior executives from across the radio and automotive industries set to attend the conference.

DAB+ continues to gain ground on a global scale, as the latest data published by WorldDAB indicates that more than 75 million DAB+ receivers had been sold in Europe and Asia Pacific by the end of 2018, compared with 65 million in 2017.

French radio station FM-Plus has launched a campaign to help finance a switch to DAB+ radio. The station based in the southern city of Montpellier is looking to gather 15,000 euros in the first instance to kick-start its digital transformation.

Listeners in the region of Bremerhaven, northern Germany, are now able to listen to DAB+ digital radio. The new DAB+ transmitter installed in Schiffdorf covers Nordenham, Langen, Loxstedt and Bokel.