Digital islands for small radios
Going forward, even smaller radio stations will have a platform for the digital distribution of their programs. The Federal Office of Communications (Bakom) has granted Digris a radio license to operate DAB+ hotspots throughout Switzerland.
By 2015, the radio licensee intends to set up DAB+ antennas in larger conurbations in Switzerland. This platform is primarily intended to enable non-commercial radio stations and those broadcast via the Internet to broadcast their programs digitally, according to Bakom. Digris is using a new, software-based technology for this purpose, which is much less expensive than the existing large-scale DAB+ broadcasting areas. This system, called "Software Defined Radio," was developed by the Swiss company Opendigitalradio.org. Reception is possible with all conventional DAB+ radio devices.
Currently, Digris produces a user-designed, Internet-distributed programming platform called "Openbroadcast". With the granting of the radio license, the association "Limus" will take over a share of Digris. Limus unites the non-commercial radio stations and web radio stations organized in the Unikom and Asroc associations, respectively. Digris plans to put the first DAB+ islands into operation this year in Zurich and Geneva, according to Bakom. The final expansion is planned by the end of 2015.
In addition to the radio license, Digris holds a currently unused license for the broadcasting of a DAB program, which will be reactivated when the DAB platform goes into operation. As a program licensee, Digris is entitled to contributions from the technology subsidy upon application if it creates and operates its own platform. Thanks to this federal support, which covers 75 percent of the investment costs, interested program broadcasters receive much more favorable access to the Digris platform.
