Digital audio broadcasting refers to the delivery of radio content using digital terrestrial transmission standards, such as DAB or more recent DAB+.

Digital radio receivers offer consumers better listening experience than those using analogue (AM/FM) frequencies. Further contrary to analogue broadcasting technology, digital audio broadcasting allows several radio stations to use the same frequency on the same multiplex and therefore has lower transmission costs.

Our research shows that in the selected EU members states all countries have launched commercial services or are about to do so, except Finland.

In the countries where services exist, there is a split situation in terms of geographic coverage: some countries cover most of their population (above 80%) whereas others have a low coverage (20%), such as France and Spain.

The benchmark also shows that in four out of the ten countries analysed, public authorities have set up a clear national policy to develop digital radio. In none of the countries covered, a date for the analogue switch-off has been set. In 2017, Norway became the first country in the world to switch-off national FM broadcasting. 

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