At a meeting on 25th March, the German Commission of broadcasting policies (Rundfunkkommission), headed by Mr. Stadlmeier announced its decision by all 16 Lander to approve a nationwide multiplex able to transmit between 10 and 15 radio stations. Deutschland Radio, the national public radio broadcaster of Germany, will have access to one third of the national digital network capacity, and two thirds will be made available to private radio operators, which allows them to broadcast national radio services for the first time. The BNetzA, the frequency authority of Germany, now has the task of assigning frequencies and choosing the network operator for the planned large single frequency network. The national digital channels will be supplemented by two or three multiplexes in each of the 16 regions to provide regional and local radio from public service ARD stations and private broadcasters. ARD stations in each region will also be allowed to broadcast an additional digital only service to add to their five existing programmes in each area. Between 30 and 40 digital radio stations will become available in every region of Germany, offering a mix of local and nationwide, private and public radio stations. Quentin Howard, President of WorldDMB, said, "This decision is great news for digital radio in Germany and for the whole of Europe. The largest countries in Europe - Germany, France and the UK - have all committed to the same family of digital radio standards, making it easier for other countries to follow suit. Digital radios will become even cheaper and more readily available, and with new models able to work in any country the barriers to a universal digital radio system for the whole of Europe have been removed."DAB+ is an updated version of DAB, used in Switzerland today and by Australia for their digital radio services which launch later this summer. In addition to DAB+, German broadcasters may continue with existing DAB services and could introduce DMB at some future stage. New digital radios able to receive DAB, DAB+ and DMB are in production now and will become available during 2009, in time for the launch of Germany's new services.
(Source : EBU)
The Eureka 147 (Digital Radio) based system has been well proven and after many years of various Pilots and Trials, is now coming of age. The UK sees over 300 Stations available on DAB from nearly 50 Multiplexes in acomplexnetwork - but the new erman initiative will take Digital Radio onto new levels.
ReplyDeleteAlthough a European initiative - DAB (DAB+, DAB-IP, T-DMB andDMB-A) is expanding ona global basis - and is now in eveidence from Canada to Korea, Norway to New Zealand and Sweeden to South Africa. The new multiplexes opening up in Switzerland will be DAB+ and delivering in the region of 20 channels initially to the German speaking areas of the Country.
Expansion of existing systems is moving fast and many new countries are joining in - i.e. Poland is expected to deliver a trial of DAB+ within a matter of weeks. Although india has carried out trials - interest to date has been "Limited" - however, if I can assist with any information - please do not hesitate to contact me - (My company has been delivering DAB systems since 1997 - so I should be able to help).
Tony.orwin@radioScape.com