LONDON – The UK government has endorsed Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) as the primary means of migrating from analogue to digital radio, says a report released late last week.
The Digital Britain Report “underlines the importance of the communications sector, its crucial contribution to the economy and its role in building Britain’s industrial future”, and includes proposals on next generation networks, broadband access, and digital content rights, as well as digital radio.
The report supports strategies set out by WorldDMB that recommends analogue radio switch off as early as 2017. WorldDMB is an international, non-governmental organization that promotes the awareness, adoption and implementation of DAB-based technologies worldwide.
“The Digital Britain report is a ringing endorsement for DAB digital radio, further assuring consumers and the radio industry that the platform is not only highly successful but here to stay. Sales of DAB receivers continue to be strong in established markets with many new countries adopting DAB standards, such as Australia and China. Meanwhile France and Germany are rolling out the DAB family in 2009 and 2010, confirming the platform as Europe’s preferred digital radio standard”, said WorldDMB president Quentin Howard, in the press release.
The UK government report included a statement of policy commitment to DAB, a plan for digital migration of radio and the criteria to achieve this, the creation of a new digital radio delivery group to increase the attractiveness, availability and affordability of DAB receivers and to advise on the digital migration plan, and the intention to expand the BBC’s DAB network to match current FM analogue coverage, the press release continued.
In related news, the Digital Radio Development Bureau reported that sales of digital radios in 2008 reached 8.53 million in the UK, with DAB ownership increasing to 35%. Radio listening via DAB digital radio accounted for 11.4% of all radio UK listening.
For more on the Digital Britain report, click here.
