Digital Radio

Digital radio has the potential to deliver a range of new and innovative services to listeners. It allows for more efficient use of radiocommunications spectrum and its introduction will enable the industry to respond to increasing competition from new digital technologies.

In May 2007, the Australian Parliament passed legislation to facilitate the introduction of digital radio in Australia by 1 January 2009. To ensure the industry has the time required to prepare for the introduction of digital radio, the Australian Government will amend this legislation to extend the deadline by six months to 1 July 2009.

The legislation is premised on digital radio being a supplement to existing radio services in Australia, rather than a replacement technology. Under this approach digital radio is to be introduced under a staged approach, allowing the radio sector to take advantage of digital opportunities and enabling consumers to benefit from new digital services that will operate alongside existing analog radio services.

The first digital radio services to be rolled out will be in the mainland state capital cities and will utilise the world’s most widely implemented terrestrial digital radio technology known as Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB). Further information on the rollout of digital radio is available here.

• Document ID: 8425 |
• Last modified: 23 July 2008, 11:51am