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Regional, local and community digital terrestrial radio broadcasts
Historically, multiplexes of digital terrestrial radio transmitters covered large areas, making entry into this space expensive and challenging for local or community stations. However, low-cost technological advances have paved the way for "small-scale" digital terrestrial radio.
Main features and benefits:
Lower cost and accessibility : Small-scale DAB uses more affordable equipment and technology, significantly lowering the barrier to entry for local and community broadcasters, making digital radio accessible to organisations that might not have been able to afford it before.Increased choice and diversity : This development has led (abroad, of course...) to the proliferation of new local, commercial, community and specialty radio stations. Regional/local radio provides a digital platform for existing analog community stations and enables the creation of new services that appeal to niche interests or specific local communities (e.g., stations for minority groups, special musical genres or community events)
Local coverage: while national DAB repeaters cover wide areas, short-range local DAB transmitters focus on serving smaller geographic areas, such as a town or even specific neighborhoods within a city. This allows for highly localized content and engagement.
Regulatory support : In many countries (such as the UK with the Ofcom licensing rounds), regulators have actively supported small-scale DAB deployment to foster local broadcasts and provide a pathway for community radio to switch to digital.
Community ownership and partnerships : Many short-range DAB multiplexers are operated by "corporations", such as Community Interest Companies (CICs), which are often formed by partnerships between several local radio stations, allowing for shared costs and responsibilities.
Flexibility for short-term broadcasting : Some multiplex operators offer "Restricted Service Licences (RSLs)" on DAB, similar to short-term FM licences. This allows stations to broadcast for limited periods, for example, to support events, religious festivals or to trial new services.
Integration with online platforms : While small-scale DAB offers local reach, many of these stations also maintain an online presence, allowing them to reach a global audience
Photo by Guillaume Pierre LEROY
How it works (A brief explanation)
Multiplex operator : A licensed entity operates the "multiplexer," which is the digital stream carrying multiple radio stations.
Licensing : Radio stations must obtain a license from a local communications regulator to broadcast on a multiplexer.
Technical definition : The multiplexer operator handles the technical aspects of combining audio feeds from different stations, encoding them, and broadcasting them digitally.
Reception : Listeners with a DAB or DAB+ radio in the broadcast area can tune in to these local and community stations.
Essentially , short-range local and community DAB services democratize digital radio, enabling a more diverse and local radio landscape that serves specific community needs and interests