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As DAB+ launches in Nord- Pas-de-Calais, what is DAB+, how can you listen and how much does it cost?

In addition to Lille , the inhabitants of Calais, Dunkerque, Lens-Douai and Valenciennes can now enjoy the advantages of DAB+ technology, provided they are equipped with a compatible receiver: better sound quality, enhanced mobile reception, associated data flows and above all a greater choice of stations.

About 50 radio stations have been launched in DAB+ digital radio in Hauts-de-France. "With a saturated FM network, there was a need to access additional channels, and DAB+ guarantees the choice of listening," said François Decoster, vice-president of the region Hauts-de-France in charge of Culture, during an official ceremony in Lille on Tuesday.

JBL has launched a new bluetooth speaker. The Tuner is a portable speaker with both an FM radio and DAB + radio.

After Paris, Marseille and Nice, DAB+ is now available in Lille and in the Hauts-de-France region with the launch of 51 stations. On-air radio is continuing its transition to digital, as part of the trend in Europe. This is an ambitious national deployment plan being driven by the Conseil supérieur de l’audiovisuel (CSA - Higher Audiovisual Council)

In anticipation of the gradual transition to DAB+ in Belgium next year, RTBF has decided to gradually phase out medium wave (AM) broadcasts, firstly by reducing services by five hours a day at low listening hours (8pm- 6am), before the complete shutdown of its last two transmitters in coming months. FM broadcasts will continue to air after medium wave is switched off to enable a gradual transition to full DAB+ services.

Nine radio stations are broadcasting in the first DAB+ trials in Kyiv following the country's earlier tender process. Ukrainian National Broadcasting Council NRADA chairman Yuriy Artemenko and council member Sergey Kostinsky conducted tests of the new service, reporting that they were able to receive several stations in their vicinity without lifting the antenna from their receiver. Winners from a new tender process will be announced 14 August.

Three channels of Kyiv station Ukrainian Radio has began broadcasting in DAB+, and general producer Dmitry Khorkin has praised the additional data via text and images that come with DAB+, as well as consistent and better sound quality.

The Radio Medion S85105 supports both digital radio reception via DAB + and the Internet - the latter via integrated WLAN. The Sony XDR-S60DBO is the best digital radio with DAB + reception in the test of Stiftung Warentest.

The launch of DAB+ in the northern French city of Lille and the Hauts-de-France region is an important step in the development of digital radio and in the roadmap driven by the CSA to cover 70% of the French population by 2020. 50 stations will launch in DAB+ in the region following Tuesday's launch.