Ofcom Sets Out Details for Digital Radio Licensing

July 26, 2006 - Ofcom has set out details of the licensing process which, over the next three years will lead to a significant expansion in local and national DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting) radio services.

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 that have been announced include:

National DAB radio multiplex license
Ofcom expects to advertise the second national radio multiplex license by the end of 2006. The license will enable DAB transmissions across most of the UK. However international agreements on frequency use, intended to reduce interference between broadcasts from neighboring countries, will mean that some coastal areas in south and south-east England as well as Northern Ireland and parts of west Wales will, at least initially, not be able to receive these services.

Local DAB radio multiplex licenses
The new local DAB services are intended to fill in the gaps in current local digital radio coverage. The first 12 local radio multiplex licenses 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 licenses 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.

For more information see ‘The Future Licensing of DAB Digital Radio’ at: www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/dab/statement/