April 20, 2020

Ofcom is setting out how it will license “small-scale DAB”, an innovative technology that will provide a low-cost route for local commercial, community and specialist music stations to take to the digital airwaves.

Ofcom says that small-scale DAB will expand local digital radio coverage and ensure that listeners will be able to tune into a diverse range of radio services across the UK, on the Digital Audio Broadcasting platform which now accounts for 40% of the UK’s radio listening.

Ofcom says that it will advertise licences for small-scale DAB in batches, starting with 25 local areas across the UK, including five where trials are already under way. The second round will be for northwest England and northeast Wales. To read Ofcom’s news release in full, click here.