August 8th
In Germany, two new transmitters, Lügde-Rischenau and Eggegebirge (Willebadessen), have been brought into service on Block 5C, extending coverage of the national ensemble DR Deutschland in Weserbergland.

August 8th
In Germany, the broadcaster Radio Ilmwelle has announced that it will cease broadcasting, probably on August 13th. Live production has already ended. The announcement affects half of the services broadcast on the local ensemble Ingolstadt - ILMWELLE 90s, ILMWELLE EVENT, IW SCHLAGER, PN EINS DANCE, PN EINS URBAN and Radio Ilmwelle.

August 8th
In Italy, two transmitters were brought into service on Block 12C during July, extending coverage of the ensemble * DAB Italia *:-
* Taranto
* a site covering the area between Florence, Prato and the Fucecchio area
A third transmitter, at Riva del Garda, covering the north of the Garda Lake was activated at the end of June.

August 8th
In France, the regulator has authorised Rmux to replace France Multiplex as the operator of the Block 9D ensemble RNT NICE MUX 5. The change comes into effect on September 15th.

August 8th
In the Netherlands, Classic FM has announced that it will begin broadcasting in DAB+ on September 1st. The list of transmitters mentioned, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Den Haag, Hilversum, Goes and Amersfoort, suggests it will be carried on the Blocks 5B and 11A instances of MTVNL.

August 1st
In the Czech Republic, the TELEKO DAB transmitter at Liberec - Proseč has migrated from L-band to Band III and is now transmitting on Block 5D. Teleko's website lists two remaining L-band sites - Brno - vysílac Barvicová on Block LE and Lysá Hora on Block LP.

August 1st
Three new services have popped up on the local ensemble Hereford-Worcs. Capital UK, Heart UK and Smooth UK are each broadcasting in "original-flavour" DAB at 112 kbit/s. Snapshot updated.

August 1st
In Belgium, the migration of the VBRO service EVERGREEN from DAB+ VLAANDEREN1 to DAB+ VLAANDEREN2 is complete. The Block 11A instance has ceased. The bitrates of NOSTALGIE, Radio Maria and TOPradio on DAB+ VLAANDEREN1 have been increased.

August 1st
In France, the regulator has advertised the next tranche of local and regional ensembles.

Regional:

• Ardennes, Marne & Aube (Reims étendu)
• Calvados & Orne (Caen étendu)
• Finistère (Brest étendu)
• Gard & Lozère (Nîmes étendu)
• Haute-Vienne & Corrèze (Limoges étendu)
• Hérault & Aveyron (Montpellier étendu)
• Ille-et-Vilaine (Rennes étendu)
• Maine-et-Loire (Angers étendu)
• Meurthe-et-Moselle, Meuse & Vosges (Nancy étendu)
• Moselle (Metz étendu)
• Puy-de-Dôme, Allier, Cantal (Clermont-Ferrand étendu)
• Pyrénées-Orientales (Perpignan étendu)
• Sarthe (Le Mans étendu)
• Somme & l'Aisne du Nord (Amiens étendu)

Local:

• Amiens
• Angers
• Brest
• Caen
• Clermont-Ferrand
• Le Mans
• Limoges
• Metz
• Montpellier
• Nancy
• Nîmes
• Perpignan
• Reims
• Rennes
• Troyes

Simultaneously, the CSA has advertised vacant capacity, where it exists, on ensembles already in service:

• Calais & Boulogne-sur-Mer
• Colmar
• Lens-Douai
• Lille
• Dunkerque
• Valenciennes

... and has effectively readvertised capacity on ensembles previously licenced but which have never made it onto the air

• Bourgoin-Jallieu
• Bourg-en-Bresse
• Mâcon
• Haguenau

These advertisements close on November 6th 2019.

August 1st
In Germany, the public-service broadcaster SWR has brought a new transmitter into service on Block 11A. Bitburg Stahl improves coverage of the Rheinland-Pfalz ensemble SWR RP in Bitburg and the Landkreis Bitburg-Prüm.

August 1st
In Austria, two new services have popped up on the Block 11C ensemble CityMUX Wien II. High Live Radio and Vienna HoodMusic are broadcasting in DAB+ at 64 kbit/s each.

July 31st
Snapshot of the local ensemble Surrey-NSussex updated. Addition of Fun Kids Junior.

July 30th
Double-Whammy 1) In Germany, Antenne Deutschland, the consortium awarded the second national multiplex, is unlikely to begin transmissions in time for the Internationale Funkaustellung in Berlin. The website Radiowoche reports that despite the ongoing judicial scrutiny of the process by which the licence was awarded and the decision by the Leipziger Verwaltungsgericht that the process was flawed and should be conducted again with corrections in place, Antenne Deutschland had intended to proceed with their intended on-air date. The website reports that this is now no longer the case.
Double-Whammy 2) In Switzerland, the website DAB-Swiss reports that a second SwissMediaCast ensemble in German-speaking Switzerland is unlikely to begin broadcasting any time soon. SMC was awarded the fifth layer of coverage but the undertakings of prospective service providers to make use of capacity have failed to translate into signed contracts. The website predicts that the ensemble is now unlikely to enter into service unless and until the government commits to an FM shutdown. On the other hand, the planning for an SMC ensemble in Tessin (Ticino) is making steady progress.

July 30th
On the local ensemble Herts Beds Bucks, the service Connect FM has been relabelled Radio UP. Snapshot updated.

July 30th
Trial Birmingham snapshot updated. Multiple changes since previous observation.

July 30th
On Trial Manchester, the service Trafford Sound has been relabelled Test channel. Its DLS identifies the service now as 45 Radio. Snapshot updated.

July 30th
In France, the regulator has revoked the authorisation granted to a service Radio Scarpe Sensée, produced by Radio Loisirs, to broadcast on the local ensemble Valenciennes, in view of the service's absence.

July 29th
In Belgium, the special-event Tour de France services have ceased.

July 29th
Trial Brighton snapshot updated. Three new services have popped up since the previous observation. 11disco and 80s Rhythm are broadcasting in DAB+ at 64 and 48 kbit/s respectively. Atmosphere.Radio is running in DAB+ at 48 kbit/s but was without an audio stream at the time of the observation. The service Trickstar has ceased.

July 28th
In France, the regulator has authorised the service SWIGG to migrate from the Block 7A ensemble RNT Marseille 3 to the Block 8A ensemble RNT Marseille 2. The change is to be completed by October 31st.

July 27th
In Europe, a number of private-sector broadcasters, but also at least one prominent and vocal national public-service broadcaster (ORF), view DAB+ as a transition technology, necessary only until the broad sunlit upland of universal 5G coverage is available. The 5G Media Initiative, a group of broadcasters, regulators and manufacturers, under the umbrella of the Institut für Rundfunktechnik, has sought in a press release to dampen this expectation. A commentary on the German website teltarif.de describes the technical reasons why 5G Broadcast is not suited to universal radio coverage. The spectrum allocated to 5G lies in the upper end of the UHF band, where higher transmission powers and more transmitter sites would be required to achieve the same level of coverage as with DAB+ in Band III. Where a DAB+ transmitter can reach a certain area with 10kW of ERP, 5G Broadcast would require 100kW to cover the same area. Therefore, radio coverage would be much more expensive using 5G Broadcast than with DAB+. In the view of teltarif.de, the absence of a radio mode on smart phones or tablets has little to do with the technology per se but rather with the fact that telecommunications businesses are more interested in selling and moving large volumes of data rather than universally-available, free-to-air radio broadcasting.

July 27th
In Belgium, the service VBRO EVERGREEN is in the process of migrating from the Block 11A ensemble DAB+ VLAANDEREN1 to the Blocks 5A and 5D ensemble DAB+ VLAANDEREN2, where it has popped up with a different SId and the Service Label EVERGREEN. According to a DLS message running on 11A, both instances will run in parallel until the 31st July.

July 27th
On the local ensemble NE Wales W Chesh, the service Hope FM appears to have reverted to its former SId.

July 26th
On the local ensemble NE Wales W Chesh, the service Hope FM is running with a new SId.

July 26th
In northern Germany, the public-service broadcaster NDR has brought two new transmitters into service. Röbel, on Block 10C, extends and improves coverage of the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern ensemble NDR MV in the region between Meyenburg, Goldberg, Moltzow, Kratzeburg and Mirow. Stade, on Block 9B, broadcasts the Niedersachsen ensemble NDR NS to a region that includes Freiburg (Elbe), Wischhafen, Drochtersen, Grünendeich, Jork, Buxtehude, Harsefeld, Bremervörde, Lamstedt, Hemmoor and Cadenberge.

July 26th
In Germany, the public-service broadcaster in Nordrhein-Westfalen, WDR, has increased the power of its transmitter at Hohe Warte from 0.5 kW to 1 kW. The transmitter at Siegen has had its power increased from 0.36 kW to 1 kW. Both sites broadcast the ensemble Radio fuer NRW on Block 11D.

July 25th
Applications for the new Channel Islands local ensemble closed on the 17th. The regulator received applications from three groups:
* Nation Broadcasting, in the shape of its wholly-owned subsidiary Bailiwick Broadcasting, has announced that it has applied. It plans to broadcast 25 services, using DAB+ for most of the ensemble's services. The two services not listed as DAB+ are connected to the rival applicant Tindle MuxCo, whose own application has them broadcasting in "original-flavour" DAB. Under Nation's proposals, the local BBC services, BBC Radio Guernsey and BBC Radio Jersey would be broadcast in DAB+ with both the AM and FM versions of both station's services being carried. Nation proposes to broadcast from three sites, including Alderney, from the outset
* Tindle MuxCo Channel Islands, a consortium of Tindle CI Broadcasting (owners of Channel 103 in Jersey and Island FM in Guernsey) and Folder Media, propose to broadcast local services Channel 103, Island FM, BBC Radio Guernsey and BBC Radio Jersey, plus a selection of other services broadcast on the national ensembles in mainland Britain, including Virgin Radio, TalkSport, TalkRadio, Fun Kids, plus other services such as Bailiwick Radio, Contact Classic Hits and Atlantis. Under the Tindle MuxCo proposals, the BBC local services would also be broadcast in DAB+, but the application implies that that not all of the BBC's reserved capacity would be used and that only one service from each station would be carried. Under Tindle MuxCo's proposals, Alderney would be added to the network only during the lifetime of the licence.
* Small Digital Planet Ltd, a local consortium based in Jersey, proposes 16 services, four of which are redacted from the publicly-available application. Four transmission sites are proposed, including a low-power relay at La Collete Power Station to cover the east and south-east of St Helier and parts of St Clements. As with the other two applications, the local BBC services would be broadcast in DAB+.

July 25th
On the Danish national ensemble DK DAB1, the services Classic Rock and ENERGY (NRJ) have switched to the higher bitrate of 96 kbit/s each.

July 22nd
DAB+ transmissions are reported to be taking place in North Macedonia. An ensemble is reported to have popped up on Block 11C, broadcasting nine services.

July 22nd
A new service has popped up on the local ensemble Surrey-NSussex. Fun Kids Junior is broadcasting in DAB+ at 32 kbit/s.

July 20th
Snapshot of the Italian ensemble CRDAB Piemonte updated. Multiple changes, including lower bitrates and changes to Protection Levels. There are four new services compared with the previous snapshot: JUKEBOX, RADIO ALFA, RADIO NEWS 24 and DIM SUONO *SOFT*. RVS ITALY has ceased.

July 20th
On London 1, the service Gold has been relabelled Gold London and is now running at the higher bitrate of 40 kbit/s. Snapshot updated.

July 15th
A new service is reported to have popped up on the German local ensemble Augsburg. RT1 RELAX is reported to be broadcasting in DAB+ at 72 kbit/s.

July 15th
Snapshots added of the new French local ensembles NANTES LOCAL and NANTES Local 2.

July 15th
Snapshot added of the new French regional ensemble Nantes5D. Both transmitters, radiating TII, were received in their respective coverage areas.

July 15th
Snapshot added of the new French local ensemble St Nazaire. One transmitter, radiating TII, was received and was assumed to be Guérande.

July 14th
A new service has popped up on Trial London. Cyber Rock is broadcasting in DAB+ at 48 kbit/s. Snapshot updated.

July 13th
Snapshot of the Polskie Radio ensemble in Kraków updated. Previous snapshot corrected.

July 13th
On Trial Glasgow, the service Paisley FM has been assigned a new SId. The previous instance has been relabelled RetuneToPaisley and points to the same audio subchannel.

July 13th
A low-power special events ensemble is reported to have popped up on Block 6B at Silverstone, in connection with this weekend's British Grand Prix. According to reports in the DigitalSpy forum, the ensemble appears to be broadcasting talkback for broadcasters (TV crew members note: in the clear!) around the race track.

July 12th
In Slovenia, three new transmitters have been brought into service on Block 10D. Kranjska Gora, Kuk and Skalnica extend coverage of the national ensemble Slovenia DAB+ R1 in the northwest of the country. Although Kranjska Gora is only one kilometer from the Austrian border, there is reported to be no or very little overspill.

July 8th
Snapshot of the local ensemble Lincolnshire updated. Addition of Hope FM.

July 8th
Snapshot of the Austrian ensemble CityMUX Wien II updated. Multiple changes sinc the previous observation. Some services previously carried here have migrated to the new national ensemble.

July 8th
A new service has popped up on Trial Bristol. NOODS Radio is broadcasting in DAB+ at 48 kbit/s.

July 7th
The UK regulator proposes to make the use of DAB+ mandatory on Small-Scale multiplexes. The consultation document published by Ofcom this week reveals that it expects demand for capacity to be high and wishes to ensure that operators are able to accomodate as many services as possible. Of the ten trial ensembles on air, only Trial Brighton is currently exclusively DAB+. The others currently broadcast at least one "original-flavour" DAB service. The regulator proposes that capacity be reserved in future for C-DSP ("community") services, such that each service is able to operate at a minimum of 48 kbit/s, and a multiplex may have capacity reserved for more than one C-DSP service. This capacity should be reserved exclusively for C-DSP and not used, even temporarily, for other types of services.

July 6th
Special-event services have popped up on the Belgian regional ensembles in connection with the Tour de France. Viva TdF Luxembg and Viva TdF Namur share a subchannel on NAM-LUX 1. Viva TdF Charler and Viva TdF Mons share a subchannel on HAINAUT 1.

July 6th
On the Belgian ensemble DAB+ VLAANDEREN1, the service Qmusic non-stop has been relabelled Q-Maximum Hits.

July 5th
In Switzerland, a new transmitter was brought into service on Block 7A during June, extending coverage of the ensemble SMC D03 N-CH:-
Wiggen (Escholzmatt, Marbach, Wiggen)
The site is considered to be under test and will enter official service in August.

July 5th
In Switzerland, new transmitters were brought into service on Block 12C during June, extending coverage of the ensemble SRG SSR D01:-
Zwischenflüh (Region Diemtigtal: Zwischenflüh, Grimmialp)
Grindel Moretchopf (Region Laufen, Breitenbach, Laufen, Zwingen, Erschwil, Beinwil SO)
Nods Chasseral (Region Seeland; Aarberg, Kerzers, Mühleberg, Schmitten, Murten, Avenches)
All three sites are considered to be under test and will enter official service in August.

July 5th
In Italy, five transmitters were brought into service on Block 12C during June, extending coverage of the ensemble * DAB Italia *:-
* Capo Vado (Savona)
* Trontano (Domodossola)
* Levo (Lago Maggiore)
* Lappano (Cosenza)
* Roccasecca dei Volsci (for the Agro Pontino area south of Latina)
Additional sites are expected to enter service during July.

July 5th
The UK regulator has launched a consultation on its proposals to advertise and licence Small-Scale DAB multiplexes using new powers that the government is laying before parliament.
The consultation covers
* the proposed spectrum and licensing process
* the regulator's approach to developing a coverage area plan
* how the regulator intends to advertise licences and assess applications
The consultation closes Friday 4 October.
The regulator expects to begin the process early in 2020.
The consultation document also serves as an announcement that no additional local multiplexes are expected to be licensed in Birmingham, Manchester or London. Muxco had called for an additional local multiplex to be licensed in Manchester and reported that there was sufficient demand for capacity to make a second local mux viable. However, the regulator states that there is barely sufficient spectrum to accommodate the expected take-up of small-scale ensembles.
The consulation document points out that at least some of the additional demand could be met by switching the local ensemble services to DAB+ to permit the carriage of a greater number of services. Muxco had also called for an additional local ensemble to be licensed in Birmingham, but the document states that insufficient spectrum exists to permit a second ensemble similar in coverage to the existing one.
The document lists areas where sufficient frequencies do exist that could enable additional local ensembles.

July 2nd
Kellyanne Conway may have coined the term "alternative facts", but the UK retailer Halfords has taken the concept to new heights. From their website, the following helpful advice...

Simply put, DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting) digital radio offers superior sound quality than traditional FM / AM band radio. Digital transmissions contain more information than conventional FM / AM, thanks to the super-fast wavelength of around 220MHz in the UK, compared to the 75KHz or so wavelength of analogue FM / AM radio broadcasts.

You learn something new every day!

July 2nd
In Germany, the media regulator for Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein has received three applications to operate an ensemble that was advertised as a platform to cover, in a three-year pilot, three distinct small areas - the cities of Kiel and Lübeck plus the island of Sylt and the immediately-adjacent mainland:-
Divicon Media Holding GmbH
die Media Broadcast GmbH
die Uplink Network GmbH
The regulator also advertised 54 of the Capacity Units on the existing ensemble operated by public-service broadcaster NDR for use by an existing private-sector Land-wide radio service, for which R.SH (Regiocast GmbH und Co. KG) has applied.
The regulator expects to make a decision on August 21st.

July 2nd
In Germany, the public-service broadcaster in Hessen has brought a new transmitter into service on Block 7B. Gießen-Dünsberg improves coverage of hr Radio in Mittelhessen, including Gießen and Wetzlar. In Nordhessen, the transmitter Habichtswald is now operating at the higher ERP of 10kW, improving coverage over an area stretching from Bad Karlshafen as far as Korbach and including Kassel.

July 1st
In Germany, ALPENWELLE, CHARIVARI RO, GALAXY RO and RADIO OBERLAND have been added to the new Bavarian ensemble Voralpen. All services are in DAB+ at 96kbit/s, apart from the existing service ARABELLA KULT, which is running at 80kbit/s. Snapshot updated.

July 1st
On the Swedish national ensemble SR DAB, all services have switched to DAB+, apart from the SR P4/SR P7 Sisuradio timeshare. SR P2 replaces SR P2 Klassiskt and SR P2 Världen. SR P3 Din Gata replaces SR P3 Star. SR P4 Stockholm is a new addition. Daytime and overnight snapshots updated.