WorldDAB is out with the second edition of an ebook to help those who want to launch a DAB+ digital radio service or are in the process.

The resource is called “Establishing DAB+ Digital Broadcast Radio.” The first edition came out three years ago; it has been updated to coincide with World Radio Day this Friday.

“The book offers a unique, in-depth guide to the regulatory, technical and commercial aspects of establishing a successful DAB+ digital radio service,” according to the organization.

It covers the process from initial interest through to analog switch-off. New information is included on Automatic Safety Alert (ASA), hybrid radio features, regulation/licensing and how to minimize costs of site design.

“There are also updates on country examples, the digital adoption process and analog switchover.”

It is available free on the WorldDAB website.

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The author of this commentary is program manager in France for WorldDAB.

France is one of the fastest-growing DAB+ markets, making this year’s Paris Radio Show on Feb. 3–4 a key event in the digital radio calendar.

The show is described by the organizers as being “where decision-makers and players in the digital audio, radio and podcasting industries come to learn, exchange ideas and discover suppliers for their technical, editorial, strategic or other needs.”

WorldDAB, the global industry forum for DAB+ digital radio, will again be represented. It will demonstrate advances in the new life-saving Automatic Safety Alert (ASA) system, as well as new features incorporated in the latest domestic receivers.

National update

DAB+ continues its rollout across France.

In December 2025, a further 90 transmitters were brought into service. These new sites mainly enhance the range of radio stations already available on DAB+, primarily in Brittany and the Pays-de-la-Loire region.

In short, DAB+ started north-east, center and south, and it now expands further west. Sixty-six percent of the population can now enjoy DAB+, including nearly all towns with a population of 50,000 or more.

The “metropolitan” multiplexes, which bring together the main national public and private networks, launched a total of 69 additional transmitters in December, bringing good coverage to the main urban areas of Brittany and the region’s road network.

The metropolitan multiplexes can also be received on more than 9,000 km of motorway; by the end of this year, population coverage is expected to reach 80%.

Exciting new DAB+ stations are also in the pipeline such as Radio France’s “Mon Petit France Inter,” a new public service radio station designed for children. At the recent WorldDAB Summit, Charles-Emmanuel Bon, secretary general of Radio France, described the service as a unique offering, broadcast only in DAB+, and targeted toward children ages 6–10 and their parents for in-car listening.

Alongside this, “Ensemble pour le DAB+” brings the industry together to produce innovative media campaigns promoting DAB+ to the public, with the support of the Ministry of Culture. After several radio and poster campaigns, the promotion of DAB+ took another step forward last year with a summer television campaign.

In addition to a new wave of radio promotions, DAB+ was featured on several television channels: M6, France TV, BFMTV and SECOM. The advert showed the many benefits of listening to DAB+ radio while travelling, in everyday life or on holiday. In 2026, DAB+ will represent a broadcasting spending of more than £30 million per year for French radio stations.

Assisted awareness jumped in two years to 34%. And more than 80% of listeners express their satisfaction. DAB+ kept its promises: free, uninterrupted listening on the go, and quality audio. All these values reinforce the benefits of broadcast radio.

At the Paris Radio Show, WorldDAB Project Director Bernie O’Neill and France Country Manager Jean-Marc Dubreuil will be in attendance to offer expert advice and to showcase the functionalities of the innovative new life-saving DAB+ Automatic Safety Alert system.

Last year, WorldDAB’s work to develop ASA for DAB+ was recognized by the Show’s Grand Prix Awards. ASA was nominated in the “Best Technical Innovation” award, the category recognizing new concepts, emerging technologies and innovative solutions.

Three key features make this DAB+ emergency warning system different from every other system available:

• Location targeting — only people in affected areas are notified
• Signaling between ensembles — receivers analyze references to warning announcements on other radio stations, increasing the flexibility and reach of the warnings
• Wake-up modality — receivers can be awakened by DAB+, especially important for alarm clock radios

“These new features help broadcasters and regulators to position broadcast radio as an asset in emergency situations given it is a robust and hack-resistant technology — while meeting the objectives of cultural diversity,” said O’Neill.

“This helps justify the required investment in the technology.”

The technical standards for this new feature were published by ETSI in September 2024. Product testing certification is now available to manufacturers through WorldDAB’s partners DTG Testing, with the first consumer receivers incorporating ASA now available.

Paris Radio Show takes place in La Bellevilloise in the 20th arrondissement of Paris, Feb. 3–4.

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Described as the largest SSDAB multiplex in the United Kingdom, U.DAB in North London has now launched with 26 stations.

The multiplex has been operating for years in a trial mode with three transmitters. Its founders started with “Trial London,” a test of the concept of a “small-scale” multiplex, in 2015.

“What was supposed to be nine months, ended up being 10 years,” they state on their website.

Small-scale DAB is a technology intended to provide a low-cost route for local commercial, community and specialist music services to broadcast on terrestrial digital radio to a relatively small geographical area, according to the website of regulator Ofcom.

U.DAB applied for the full-time North London license in 2023 and was awarded it a year later.

“The trial relaunched as the full-time North London multiplex in December 2025, expanding to six transmitter sites from the original three.”

They said in the announcement that the fully licensed multiplex now covers 4 million adults across North and Central London. “The resulting improved coverage, and increased audience, will provide a far better listening experience for the wide range of radio stations carried on it.”

U.DAB Ltd. is a consortium whose shareholders include Audessence, Sammy Jacob, Solar Broadcasting, Muxnet and Community Stations Reprezent, Rinse, Resonance, Nagrecha Radio, The Beat and Rainbow Radio.

The organization said it has capacity to add a few more services. (Here’s a list of stations currently heard there.)

U.DAB says it seeks to give opportunities in particular to community and smaller broadcasters, who get “significant” discounts on the cost of participating.

“The scale of the multiplex, the largest of its kind in the country, means we also host commercial broadcasters keen to reach large numbers of listeners.”

Founder Martin Spencer was quoted in the announcement, “It has taken significant time and effort to finally achieve this, and the steady commitment of those many stations that have remained with us over the years is much appreciated.”

[See a U.DAB coverage map.]

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