Digital radio DAB is finally replaced by DAB+
The DAB digital radio standard was introduced in Switzerland a little over ten years ago. Starting next week, however, DAB-compatible radios will already be obsolete: That’s when the standard will be permanently replaced by the newer DAB+.
Specifically, from October 17, radio listeners in German-speaking Switzerland will only be able to listen to DRS 1, DRS 4 and DRS Musikwelle as well as some stations from Latin Switzerland via DAB. Anyone wishing to receive other SRG stations digitally will need a DAB+-capable device or an adapter for their radio. In French-speaking Switzerland, the switchover will take place on October 15, in Ticino on October 22.
SRG assumes that around 80,000 devices are affected. In total, there are around one million digital radios in operation across Switzerland, most of which are compatible with the new DAB+ standard. Compared to FM, however, digital radio is still not very widespread in Switzerland: SRG estimates the number of FM radios at 10 million. Although the switch from DAB to DAB+ is imminent, many customers and apparently even some retailers are unaware or misinformed, as reported by the Berner Zeitung and Saldo magazine.
Media spokesperson Simone Wölfli denies that SRG failed to provide information about the switchover in good time. The switch to DAB+ had already been announced in 2008, she explained when asked. In the same year, SRG began holding industry workshops with dealers. In addition, listeners were informed about the change with flyers and on the Internet. (SDA)
