norway dab mythbusters

MYTH: Norway is the only country moving to DAB

FACT: Norway is not alone in moving to DAB – it’s the digital radio standard of choice in Europe, Asia Pacific and beyond, with over 500 million people now able to receive DAB services as rollouts continue to accelerate.

Norway was the first country that set a date for FM switch-off with Switzerland due to start theirs in 2020 and other countries including the UK watching closely.

Source: http://dabmytene.no/

Norway DAB mythbusters


MYTH: DAB has poor coverage

FACT: On FM there is only one channel, NRK P1, which has 99.5% population coverage. DAB has more than 10 NRK channels with 99.5% population coverage and commercial radio stations cover over 92% of the population, compared to 90% on FM.

NRK and commercial DAB coverage continues to be strengthened.


MYTH: DAB won’t work in tunnels

FACT: DAB coverage in tunnels continues to be rolled out and the expansion will be completed before the FM switch off.



MYTH: DAB is an outdated technology

FACT: DAB is the digital radio standard of choice in Europe, Asia Pacific and beyond, with over 500 million people now able to receive DAB services, as rollouts continue to accelerate.

The development of the DAB standard started in the 80s, after internet and mobile telephony standards that started development in the '70s. All are examples of flexible, digital solutions that are constantly being developed.



MYTH: We don’t need DAB when we have the internet

FACT: The internet is a good radio platform, but traditional broadcasting is much stronger and gives the radio characteristics that listeners expect.

DAB offers the most cost effective, reliable and secure solution for broadcast radio, with free-to-air coverage and functionality that is unmatched by any alternative method of distribution.



MYTH: DAB isn’t as effective for emergency broadcasts

FACT: The DAB network has considerable benefits over FM when it comes to emergency transmissions.

The risk of failure of transmitters in extreme situations is greatly reduced compared to an FM network thanks to the way DAB is delivered.

DAB/DAB+ digital radio rebroadcast systems also enable tunnel operators to replace audio programmes with live or pre-recorded announcements.



MYTH: Sweden said ’no’ to DAB

FACT:

All major Swedish radio broadcasters are united behind the desire for digitization and officials are awaiting developments in for example Norway before proceeding.

Swedish commercial radio stations have been licensed to send 21 national channels on DAB and over 3 million people can currently receive DAB services.



MYTH: The move to DAB was never fully investigated in Norway

FACT: Public discussion about DAB has lasted for more than 15 years and the Ministry of Culture has published three white papers on the digitization of radio over a long period.

Nine ministers of culture and four broadcasting bosses have enjoyed the transition to digital radio on their agenda. In 2005 Media Authority (a task force) compiled a report "Digital radio in Norway.” This group, with the entire radio industry represented, ended up recommending a transition to digital radio and the broadcasters' choice of technology was DAB.



MYTH: No new cars have DAB

FACT: The majority of car manufacturers now offer DAB as standard or as an option in markets with DAB services. In Norway all major brands offer DAB digital radio.

In the UK 85% of new cars come with DAB as standard – a figure that other countries are catching up to.

Around 50% of drivers say they will wait until the switch over before upgrading.



MYTH: Switching off FM will remove local radio

FACT: The vast majority of local radio stations will continue to transmit on FM. More than 200 local radio stations have extended FM licenses by 2017.



MYTH: Nobody owns a DAB receiver

FACT: Over 66% of Norwegian households already own a DAB receiver



MYTH: DAB and FM should just live side by side

FACT: Double deployment is very expensive in the extensive and hilly terrain in Norway.

Much of today's FM network is now approaching the end of its technical life and the investment for maintenance and upgrading would exceeded the cost of the new DAB networks.



MYTH: DAB radios are expensive

FACT: Today you can buy DAB radios from 200 - 300, - NOK

Across Europe digital radios cost less than €20 or €50 with a colour screen



MYTH: DAB coverage at sea is poor

FACT: NRK’s DAB network covers at least 50 km into the sea and many of the 47 main transmitter stations are lined up along the coast.



norway dab mythbusters

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