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An announcement by Ghana’s Minister for Communications and Digitisation, Honourable Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, has revealed Ghana as the first country in West Africa to deploy a DAB service. Implemented by the National Communications Authority (NCA), the trial phase involves 18 stations, with 11 based in Accra and seven in Kumasi. The platform enables listeners in both cities to access any of the stations using DAB+ receivers.

The National Communications Authority (NCA) has officially launched the trial phase of digital audio broadcasting (DAB) in the country. DAB represents a state-of-the-art radio broadcasting system that revolutionises how audio content is transmitted through the airwaves. Distinguishing itself from traditional FM radio, DAB relies on digital signals rather than analogue ones. This shift results in remarkable enhancements in reception quality and a significant reduction in signal interference.

The National Communications Authority (NCA), in collaboration with the Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation, yesterday launched the trial of the latest version of Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) in Accra and Kumasi. The Minister of Communications and Digitalisation, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, speaking at the event, said that this would place Ghana at the forefront of innovation and position the country as the first nation in West Africa and the fourth on the entire continent to deploy DAB+.

Amid steep cliffs, oak forests and special beech trees, NDR is now putting a new DAB+ transmitter into operation: in the Süntel in the Weserbergland. Radio listeners will be able to hear NDR radio programmes around Hameln in better sound quality and have more choice from Thursday, 24 August 2023. The areas of Hessisch Oldendorf, Bad Münder, Coppenbrügge, Salzhemmendorf, Emmerthal and Aerzen will benefit.

A new radio technology, Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB), that enables the transmission of digital audio content over the airwaves, has gone live in the country. This makes the country the first in West Africa and fourth on the continent to embrace the innovative technology. With increasing demand for sound broadcasting services and limited FM frequency availability in major cities, the country’s deployment of the latest version of DAB, the DAB+, will address frequency constraints for FM radio and allow stations to reach more cities.

The National Communications Authority (NCA) has launched the trial phase of Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) in Ghana. This move establishes Ghana as the pioneer in West Africa and the fourth in Africa to embrace this innovation, which enables radio stations to extend their reach to cities beyond their immediate locations, giving them a wider audience. The trial will kick off with 11 radio stations in Accra, including Citi FM, and an additional 7 stations in Kumasi. The Director General of the National Communications Authority, Joe Anokye noted that DAB has the potential to reshape the radio landscape in Ghana.

GatesAir, a subsidiary of Thomson Broadcast dedicated to wireless content delivery, will showcase new low-power FM and DAB Radio solutions from its two flagship transmission product brands at IBC2023 that align with global radio broadcast trends. Highlights include the European debut of an ultra-compact, second generation Maxiva family of DAB/DAB+ Radio transmission solutions to support a higher density of digital radio services in a single chassis.

Following recent major natural disasters in Germany, such as those in the Ahr Valley and parts of Upper Bavaria in 2021, the country’s authorities recognize the value of emergency warnings and are turning increasingly to DAB+. The broadcast format, already loved by listeners for bringing them more of their favorite radio stations in digital quality, boasts technical parameters ideally suited for reaching those under threat. Its robust transmission and broad “high tower, high power” reach mean DAB+ can remain available in crisis situations, even if the cellular network infrastructure fails, such as due to flooding or the loss of DSL switches.

The Minister of Communications, Mrs. Ursula Owusu Ekuful, has launched the trial phase of Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB), in Ghana. The trial phase of the DAB service will be deployed in Accra and Kumasi for a period of six months with eighteen existing FM stations in the two regions, following which the full deployment will be done nationwide. GBC’s Uniiq FM is the first among 18 stations selected for the trial phase.

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.”