Next steps in expansion of digital radio
by Mike Barraclough
Ofcom has issued a news release on the expansion of DAB following the
conclusion of the European frequency conference, a further detailed statement
and a link to a 37 page pdf is at the link at the end. A couple of points
from the longer statement:
The new second DAB multiplex will not be able to cover coastal areas
in Sussex, Essex, Suffolk and much of Kent, nor will it cover Northern
Ireland and Western Wales until analogue TV is switched off in the Republic.
Coverage will be at least 85% of the population. It will be able to launch
any time from the beginning of 2008.
The timetable for advertising new local DAB multiplexes has changed from
the original one and the first 12 will now be Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire
& Buckinghamshire; Derbyshire; Wrexham & Chester; Herefordshire
& Worcestershire; Northamptonshire; Oxfordshire: Gloucestershire;
York and Scarborough; Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire; Guildford; Reigate
and Crawley; Lincolnshire. All these will have appropriate reserved space
for the BBC local station.
Ofcom news release:
Ofcom today set out details of the licensing process which will lead
to a significant expansion in local and national DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting)
radio services over the next three years.
The statement concludes a period of public consultation and frequency
allocation planning which began in December 2005 when Ofcom announced
its intention to allocate radio spectrum for a second national DAB radio
multiplex and a number of local DAB radio multiplexes.
Key decisions announced today include:
National DAB radio multiplex licence
Ofcom expects to advertise the second national radio multiplex licence
by the end of 2006. The licence will enable DAB transmissions across most
of the UK. However international agreements on frequency use - intended
to reduce interference between broadcasts from neighbouring countries
- will mean that some coastal areas in south and south-east England as
well as Northern Ireland and parts of west Wales will not be able to receive
these services, at least initially.
Local DAB radio multiplex licences
The new local DAB services are intended to fill in the gaps in current
local digital radio coverage. The first 12 local radio multiplex licences
will be advertised from late 2006. There are currently no spare frequencies
suitable for additional DAB local radio services in North Wales, Suffolk
and Northern Ireland. Ofcom will continue to explore potential alternative
frequencies in these areas in order to extend the choice of digital listening
for these communities.
After the initial licences have been awarded, Ofcom may seek to enable
the addition of further local and regional multiplexes in areas already
served by local digital radio.
All multiplexes will be licensed under the Broadcasting Act 1996.
The final statement on ˜The Future Licensing of DAB Digital Radio”
is available from the Ofcom website at:
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/dab/statement/
Mike Barraclough
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