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The Private Members’ Small-Scale DAB Bill received Royal Assent to pass into law as an Act of Parliament this week. It will provide the means for a huge expansion of local and community stations on DAB, marking an historic day for UK radio.

Suzuki has the specification for its third-generation Swift, which goes on sale in the UK from 1st June. As standard, the five-model range comes with DAB radio with Bluetooth connectivity.

The Private Members’ Small-Scale DAB Bill received Royal Assent to pass into law as an Act of Parliament yesterday (27 April 2017), thereby providing the means for a huge expansion of local and community stations on DAB, marking an historic day for UK radio.

Standard equipment for all models in the range is comprehensive and the SZ3 model with 1.2-litre Dualjet engine and manual transmission includes DAB radio with Bluetooth and four speakers.

According to the "Digitisation Concept 2017", which will enter into force on 1 May 2017 , KommAustria is deepening its frequency planning in the establishment and expansion of digital audio broadcasting on the basis of DAB+ and is preparing the field for further calls.

The entry-level SZ3 model is offered as standard with aircon, a leather steering wheel, DAB radio with Bluetooth, rear privacy glass, LED daytime running lights and front electric windows.

The Swift is now five-door only and has DAB digital radio with Bluetooth connectivity as standard.

At RadioAsia 2017, Joan Warner from Commercial Radio Australia discussed the success of radio in Australia, focusing on innovative radio content creation, and commented: “Radio businesses need to continue moving forward while keeping their deep connections with their audiences,” she said, but warned that broadcasting needs to remain free to air and “not be controlled by gatekeepers such as internet providers... Radio’s future is multi-platform but the core business model for the foreseeable future is in free to air broadcasting.”

Speaking at the RadioAsia 2017 Conference in Thailand, the Chairman of the country's regulator NBTC, Colonel Sukonrat outlined some the problems currently being experienced by the Thai radio industry. "There are too many stations, especially the trial stations; there is frequency interference; and there are delays in technological development... Radio is a crucial means of communication in Thailand," he said, telling delegates there are 193 AM stations on air, 313 FM stations and 5418 FM trial stations.

Ole Jørgen Torvmark, CEO of Digitalradio Norway commented, "Today, it was historically quiet on NRK's FM broadcasts in the inland and mountain ranges. Now, digital radio is taking over. The listeners will find a larger radio offering on DAB or via apps, PC and TV".