SA to trial digital radio

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21 August 2013 News

Over 200 radio industry representatives came together in July to discuss plans for a South African trial of digital radio broadcasts, using the DAB+ standard. The trial is scheduled to run for a year starting from February 2014 and will primarily cover the Johannesburg and Pretoria areas.

Delegates attending the workshop included representatives from the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa, the Department of Communications, public and commercial broadcasters, policy makers, network operator Sentech, device and automotive manufacturers. The event was endorsed by the National Association of Broadcasters, the Southern African Digital Broadcasting Association and South African Broadcasting Corporation.

Digital radio broadcasts are in no way related to digital television (DTV) and the trial will take place irrespective of what happens regarding the oft-delayed switchover to DTV signals. There is also no deadline for a switch to digital radio; this trial is intended purely to serve as an opportunity for broadcasters and other stakeholders to come to terms with the technology and its capabilities.

According to Dave Cherry, technical manager at Classic FM and the man chairing the DAB+ trial task group, the technology provides several advantages over frequency modulated (FM) broadcasts, such as data capabilities which can be used for advertising, educational services, traffic information and many more. It also takes advantage of multiple signal paths and reflections to provide better reception in so-called ‘urban canyons’.

DAB+ and its predecessor, DAB, are already in use in several European countries and DAB+ is strongly entrenched in Australia, with many more countries planning trials in the coming years. It is seen as one of the leading digital standards poised to succeed the increasingly congested FM bands in many developed countries.

South Africa’s initial one-year trial will not be marketed to consumers but those with a DAB+ receiver in the Gauteng area will be able to pick up the signals over the trial period. Sentech has committed to transmit the DAB+ signals free of charge and twenty or more broadcasters, including the major national stations and community broadcasters, are expected to take part.

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