DAB+: Bakom wants to concentrate on safeguarding the public service
The ongoing technical development of digital radio in Switzerland presents new challenges for the Federal Office of Communications (Bakom). Rather than continuing in its current role as a policy maker, it intends to gradually shift toward the role of guardian of public service broadcasting.
DAB+ has brought two worlds together - SRG and private broadcasters, said Marcel Regnotto, Head of the Media Section at Bakom, speaking to the media in Zurich on Wednesday, according to SDA. In a kind of joint venture, they were building a network infrastructure together for the first time. However, the launch of DAB+ also represents the start of an uncertain future. For Bakom as the regulator, but also for the broadcasters, this means that they will have to rethink their current roles.
According to Regnotto, Bakom has primarily had to manage a "lack of distribution channels" - keyword: limited FM frequencies. Digital technology has turned this shortage into a surplus. In future, Bakom will withdraw from its current function as an "omnipresent designer" and concentrate on safeguarding the public service. Only a small fraction of the digital spectrum is needed for this.
The rest should be left to private providers to shape. This freedom means more freedom, but also more responsibility and risk, warned Regnotto.
According to Regnotto, Bakom has primarily had to manage a "lack of distribution channels" - keyword: limited FM frequencies. Digital technology has turned this shortage into a surplus. In future, Bakom will withdraw from its current function as an "omnipresent designer" and concentrate on safeguarding the public service. Only a small fraction of the digital spectrum is needed for this.
The rest should be left to private providers to shape. This freedom means more freedom, but also more responsibility and risk, warned Regnotto.
