Could Spain rethink the implementation of DAB Digital Radio?

After two decades since the beginning of digital radio emissions with DAB technology in Spain, the penetration of the radio digital service remains void against the European environment that has carried out migration, even in many countries adopting the second generation of the DAB+standard.

The Confederal Left Parliamentary Group (Forward Andalusia, Més Per Mallorca, more Madrid, Compromís, Gera Bai and Catalunya in Comú Podem) has presented a Senate a Proposition of Urgent Measures Law for the impulse of the Digital Terrestrial Sound broadcasting.

While in the case of the Transition to digital terrestrial television The analog emissions off process ended on April 3, 2010, in the case of the radio, the process of transition to digital technology has not run with equal success to date.

Subsequently through Real Decree 1287/1999, of July 23, the National Technical Plan of the Digital Terrestrial Sonora Broadcasting was approved. In this technical plan, the essential elements for the development of this new service under the European standard were contemplated Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) and the different networks destined to the issuance of the different services, with direct and indirect management, in the different territorial areas were characterized.

Although in 2000 regular emissions began In national coverage networks (Fu-E, MF-I and MF-II) contemplated in the aforementioned technical plan, the same did not happen with the rest of the services of the other autonomous and local networks. Only the regional contests of concessions for the exploitation of the service in indirect management regime provided for in said Royal Decree in Catalonia and the Balearic Islands were held, although only broadcasts were initiated in Catalonia.

Nor was a 80 % population coverage before June 2006, as provided in the aforementioned Royal Decree. The figure stagnated years before reaching 51 % and it was the national coverage networks (Fu-E, MF-I and MF-II) that allowed to reach it.

Despite this 51 % coverage, citizens did not begin to consume radio in DAB in a relevant way. The main reason was the ignorance, since the essential communication strategy of this type of transition processes was not developed and therefore no adequate promotional campaign was carried out to present the new programming, the new technology and the advantages that it offered to the whole of the citizens.

Apart from this, the Lack of exclusive content And differentiated attractions from those available in analog emissions, did not motivate the start of consumption, since the DAB offer was based, for the most part, on stations that issued the same FM programming. To this we had to add that the offer in the traditional channels of distribution of domestic receptors and for vehicles was scarce, with little affordable prices. The same happened with the adaptation kits for the existing vehicle park.

After almost two decades of the start of digital radio emissions with DAB technology, the penetration of the service remained virtually nil. Therefore, there was an attempt to relaunch through the elaboration of a Digitalization Plan of the land lounge broadcasting service, approved by the Council of Ministers and published by resolution of July 13, 2011 of the Secretariat of State of Telecommunications and for the Information Society.

Despite this, the planned objectives were not achieved due to the lack of execution. In addition, the coverage obligation of 50 % of the population to 20 % was temporarily reduced, establishing a period of 1 year from their approval to achieve a population coverage of 20 % with DAB+technology. This coverage should also be similar to the coverage existing in FM (interior, tunnels ...), in those areas in which it was provided.

However, far from solving Dab +'s migration and to lay the foundations for effective deployment, the effect obtained was contrary to the persecuted. In fact, it was not migrated in Dab+ and Coverage in DAB was reduced to 20 % population.

In this way, the service deteriorated significantly and what was a provisional situation became permanent. It was also left without very scarce but faithful audience coverage that had started reception in DAB throughout the national territory, with the exception of the metropolitan areas of Madrid and Barcelona that concentrate the aforementioned population of 20 % population.

Since then, June 2011 to 2020 no progress has occurred. The consumption of Digital Terrestrial Sound broadcasting remains virtually null and there are only DAB services in the aforementioned metropolitan areas, with an equally limited content offer that almost two decades ago and with great difficulties in interior reception.

Situation in other countries

Digital Terrestrial Sonora Sonora Sound Network Deployments are advancing in many countries. Switzerland (with FM off plans by 2024), Denmark, Germany or the United Kingdom have coverage greater than 97 %, Belgium and Netherlands of 95 %, Slovenia of 73 %, Italy of 82 %, Czech Republic of 66 %, Austria of 60 %, Poland of 56 %, Ireland of 52 %or Sweden of 42 %. Even France began emissions in DAB+ in June 2018 and its coverage already exceeds 20 %.

As for the stations that transmit through Sonora Digital Terrestrial broadcasting, and according to the latest available data of the European Broadcasting Union (UER), it should be noted that the number of digital terrestrial radio stations has grown 13 % in the UU zone in the last two years, from 1,503 to 1,697 stations.

At this time there are 544 stations, a third of all existing ones on the Radio Digital Terrestre, which disseminate exclusive programming that is not issued in FM, adding value to the radio offer. 69 % of these stations are private. Regarding the territorial scope, 43 % issues nationwide. Of all land digital radio stations, 67 % are private.

Before this panorama, with this proposal of law it is intended Articulate urgent measures for the coordinated implementation of the Digital Terrestrial Sound broadcasting, with harmonized implantation calendars in the different territorial areas.

Spain cannot remain off the Europe and must begin to effectively offer citizens the possibility of accessing a greater number of programs and services, with higher quality, guaranteeing the due plurality of the offer and laying the foundations of the future technological evolution of the radio, with an extreme to extreme digitalized value chain and that allows the reception of digital linear radio programming in open, without subscription to platforms or payments by internet connection.

Access to the Official Gazette of the General Courts (Senate), of July 2, 2020.