Digital Radio

Trial digital radio broadcasts (DAB) began in 1995 in the Stockholm region. The transmitter network reaches 85 percent of the Swedish households. However, digital radio can only be heard in Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmö and in Luleå by 35 percent of the Swedish population.

A licence from the Government is required for the broadcasting of  digital radio. So far, only the Swedish Radio (SR) and the Swedish Educational Broadcasting Company (UR) have licences for broadcasting digital radio.

Commission on the radio of the future

The Swedish Radio and TV Authority has followed the developments in the digital distribution of radio from a wide perspective for three years by a commission from the Government. The aim was to produce a basis on which to make an ongoing assessment of different technologies, and the commission was carried out in consultation with the radio industry. The report The future of radio shows the final results.

Radio needs to be developed to meet consumers’ needs, but it is difficult to develop the media of radio in today’s FM network. Players in the radio industry have agreed that a main digital platform for the distribution is needed and they believe that DAB+ is currently the most suitable technology for nationwide digital radio in Sweden.

Read The future of radio – final report