Car Industry in Norway: Postpone an FM Switch-Off

Oppland Arbeiderblad

Most cars still without DAB radio. Discontent and complaints.

The Norwegian car importers and dealership are again expressing strong skepticism regarding a planned FM radio closure 2017. Few cars in Norway are still not equipped with DAB radio, and there are complicated solutions for installation in old cars. Especially utilitarian transports as vans, trucks and busses are not DAB-able. This was revealed by Tore Lillermork from BIL - the car import association - at a DAB meeting at the Media Authority.

DAB Radio Close to 'Dead And Buried' in Sweden

Increased Political Majority Against FM Switch-Off. Commercial radio postponing digital terrestrial radio

At its party conference the liberal Center Party decided in support of the government decision to not go ahead with the proposed transition from FM to digital radio DAB+ in 2017-2022. There are too much uncertainty regarding a transition i.e. the emergency issues. The party demands a more elaborated analyzis before a decision can be taken.

Indian Digital Radio Structure On Air

Indian DRM Receiver to Hit Market 

Avion Electronics, a Communication Systems Inc. brand, has unveiled the first, ready-to-ship, India-made Digital Radio Mondiale receiver. The first batch of 2,000 pieces will be delivered in October, and a second batch is expected by the end of 2015. There is a firm commitment from the Indian government toward DRM, and we see a growing interest in both radio stations and consumers, says Ankit Agrawal, technical director at Communication Systems Inc.  

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.

Digital Radio Will Not Replace FM in Australia

DAB+ proposed to be supplementary to analogue platforms

In the Department of Communications report the conclusion is that Australia should not replace AM/FM with DAB+ but rather focus on analogue platforms and make DAB+ as a supplementary alternative. There is no clear picture of the future for digital terrestrial radio.

The cost and complexity of rolling out DAB plus-based digital terrestrial radio services across regional Australia present major challenges for the industry according to the report. The need to cover large geographic areas with small and dispersed populations offers unique challenges which have not been faced in many international markets.