Final Stop For DAB Radio in Sweden

Joins Finland rejecting the DAB technology and retaining FM
Democracy too strong for longtime lobbyism

The Swedish government has announced it will not go ahead with plans to replace FM radio with digital DAB+ broadcasting. In the daily Svenska Dagbladet, the Swedish minister of culture and democracy Alice Bah Kuhnke writes that there is not enough support for introducing digital radio. Among the main reasons for retaining FM is that 10 million FM receivers would have to be replaced.

The culture minister also points to concerns from the Swedish defense, which uses some of the DAB frequencies, and that there are some reports that the planned DAB networks wouldn’t have the same coverage area as the current FM networks.

Government Prepares Retainment of FM Radio In Sweden

"The DAB project is off the agenda" 
At its party congress Miljöpartiet - the Green party - has decided that the FM radio should be retained in Sweden. According to the party's culture and media spokesman Niclas Malmberg this decision means that the 2014 proposal to replace FM with DAB+ 2022 will not be carried out by the government
Since 2014 Sweden has a coalition government by the Social Democrats and the Greens. Miljöpartiet ministers is in charge of the culture, media and ICT agenda. The ministry of culture statement regarding DAB radio is expected before summer holidays in July.

Continued Slow Uptake for DAB Radio in the U.K.

Still analogue is the major radio listening platform

Listening on digital platforms has increased four percentage points on one-year basis according to latest RAJAR survey. However, still AM/FM is the major platform with 54,3 % of all listening. The share of listening to DAB is 25.9% of all listening (23.7% in Q1, 2014). This is still the highest share for DAB listening in Europe but the system was introduced in the U.K. already 1995. Norway is number two for DAB listening with a 19 % share and Denmark number three with 14 %.

No FM Switch-off in South Africa

Digital radio DAB/DRM to be developed on its own track

A South African government ICT Review Report SA states that regarding digital radio the media regulator ICASA 2013 decision not to make a determination on the switch off of AM and/or FM signals must be endorsed, and that the licensing of DRM and DAB services must be facilitated in parallel.

Mobile Broadband and Broadcast Go Together

First trials of new converged mobile broadcast system

French transmitter network operator TDF and Italian public broadcaster RAI have launched the world’s first field trials of the new converged mobile broadcast system LTE-A+ Broadcast from transmitter sites in Paris and Aosta (Italy). The trials intend to evidence the possibility of convergence between the LTE technology ecosystem on one side and traditional DVB broadcast infrastructure on the other. They come at a moment where the mobile industry is increasingly looking at eMBMS, an LTE-embedded broadcast approach to serve the growing mobile video and radio/TV consumption.

New Transmitters For The Expanded FM Band

Brazil to migrate thousand of radio stations from AM to FM

At the 2015 NAB Show GatesAir demonstrated an FM over-the-air system The Flexiva FAX designed for broadcasting on 76-88.1 MHz (below the regular 88-108 MHz FM band). The launch of an expanded FM band appears imminent, said Rich Redmond, chief product officer GatesAir. Our customers can be assured that we’ll be ready with systems as receivers for the proposed expanded FM band hit the market.