Eurolegal Roadblock for the DAB+ Transition in Norway

Closure of FM in Norway may encounter a setback.

Norway is not member of the European Union, but an EEA member (European Economic Agreement) and needs to follow the articles and laws that EU/EEA requires.  The Norwegian Local Radio Association NLF has written a letter to the Ministry of Culture to get an answer to this basic question: Is the Norwegian FM switch-off decision legal with respect to our EEA agreement?  

A closure of the FM band is regarded as the decisive factor for a DAB+ success in Norway.

Dutch Broadcast Provider on DAB: “It’s Still Too Early”

Consumer demand for DAB+ lacking

Netherlands’ Broadcast Partners is a major provider of transmission facilities in that country is hesitant about DAB developments.  We think that DAB+ maybe has a chance in the future but we do not know for sure, said the Director of Broadcast Partners, Robert Jan van der Hoeven. The picture in Europe is very variable.  From the DAB lobbies, there is a very optimistic image. They could be right. The consumer has, so far, not discovered the benefits DAB+ so you are having a replacement market.

All India Radio Opens Highpower Digital Medium-Wave

DRM  system will work simultaneously with analog

The CEO of  the Indian public radio and television organization, Mr. Jawhar Sircar has inaugurated the new 200kW medium wave transmitter of All India Radio Kolkata (657 kHz) at Aamtala. This brings the total of new DRM-ready medium wave transmitters commissioned in India to 21 (out of planned 35). However, this is the first transmitter simulcasting analogue and digital signals.

FM Radio in Smartwatch

FM radio could be coupled to body for antenna

Teardown analysis of the Apple Watch by ABI Research shows that — like most smartphones — the device includes a connectivity chip that incorporates WiFi, Bluetooth and FM radio capabilities. As in the iPhone, however, the FM capabilities of the connectivity chip are not implemented on the device.

Broadcasting vs Mobile Broadband: Continued Battle for the UHF-band

Terrestrial digital television should share UHF-band in the Arab States

The global organization for mobile operators GSMA has published a report finding that terrestrial digital TV broadcasting in the Arab States does not need an exclusive allocation of the UHF spectrum band (470-694 MHz), and that a significant amount could also be used for mobile broadband, unlocking socio-economic benefits.

More Openings For Free Radio Access in Smartphones and Tablets

Mobile operator offers subscribers unlimited music streaming.

Swedish telecom and broadband operator Three (3) from now on provides their customers with an unlimited surf pool for music streaming via services Spotify, Deezer and Tidal. More services will be added later on.

Russia Testing Digital System Below the FM Band

DRM+ Broadcasts in Band I

Russian Television and Radio Broadcasting Network has started a full DRM+ trial on Radio Mayak (Radio Lighthouse) in St. Petersburg on the 67.46 frequency. This new test is similar to one that took place in Moscow in December 2014, says the Digital Radio Mondiale organization.

First global satellite high speed mobile broadband service

Full global service by end of 2015 by three Inmarsat satellites 

The Inmarsat-5 F3 satellite will cover the Pacific Ocean Region and will, together with Inmarsat-5 F1 and Inmarsat-5 F2, create what the company says is “the world’s first globally available, high-speed mobile broadband service, delivered through a single provider”. 

Global Xpress will deliver broadband speeds around 100 times faster than the company’s fourth generation constellation, offering services for customers in both the public and private sectors, especially in the most remote and inaccessible regions of the world.