Ofcom has today published a progress update on its small-scale DAB roll-out across the UK with 115 licences awarded and 64 new multiplexes so far launched.
Small-scale DAB is an innovative technology which provides a low-cost way for local commercial, community and specialist radio stations to broadcast on digital radio.
Each Ofcom-licensed small-scale multiplex allows grass-roots community services, specialist music stations, and services aimed at minority groups and other under-served audiences to take to the digital airwaves.
Importantly, it provides a pathway to DAB for existing analogue (FM or AM) community radio stations, as well as smaller or more specialist commercial radio services who have found it difficult to obtain and afford slots on the existing local radio multiplexes, which serve much larger areas.
Three years of small-scale DAB progress
Ofcom made its first small-scale multiplex licences in March 2021, and has now completed five rounds of licensing, with a sixth round underway.
Demand for licences has been positive, with 212 applications received for the 167 areas advertised. One hundred and fifteen licences have now been awarded, and 64 multiplexes have launched so far. This total will increase significantly next year, following the recent licence awards in the south east.
The multiplexes launched carry 590 programme services between them - of which 292 are unique services – with an average of just over nine radio stations per multiplex.
Locally oriented services, both community and commercial, make up the largest category of unique stations (43%). But small-scale multiplexes are also delivering significant numbers of specialist music services (29%), stations targeting minority ethnic and faith communities (17%), and lifestyle or life-stage stations (9.5%). Nearly two thirds (65%) of sare newcomers to terrestrial radio broadcasting.
Next steps
We are currently assessing the 33 applications submitted under round six of our small-scale DAB multiplex licensing programme. We will also undertake two further rounds, including re-advertising some licence areas where the licensee has failed to launch, or areas which failed to attract applications previously
Read the full report on our website.
First round six licence awards announced
Ofcom is also today announcing the first licence awards for round six of small-scale DAB licensing. The awards are for: