DAB+ expanding to all Capitals & the Gold Coast

Staff Writer

Digital radio services are expanding across Australia with trials in Canberra and Darwin to be made permanent and digital radio to be added to Hobart and the Gold Coast over the next two to three years.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority, in consultation with the Digital Radio Planning Committee, has prepared a package of planning papers for the future development of DAB+ digital radio across Australia.

‘The commercial radio industry has indicated there are a significant number of regional licensees that have expressed interest in offering digital radio services in the next three to five years,’said acting ACMA Chairman, Richard Bean. ‘The ABC has also announced its intention to commence new services in Darwin and Hobart.’

The ACMA is facilitating the digital radio rollout by preparing digital radio channel plans for Canberra, Darwin, Hobart and the Gold Coast. These plans will make frequencies available to broadcasters wishing to provide ongoing digital radio services in those areas. Details of the timing of commencement of digital radio in these markets will be determined by the broadcasters.

The Government asked the ACMA to facilitate the rollout of digital radio in regional areas where licensees make the commercial decision that they wish to offer the service. This is why the ACMA is relying on industry for advice about which markets have planning priority.

‘Agreeing to the planning principles and settling the initial rollout markets represents a significant milestone in the work of the committee. It’s a credit to the members who have worked collaboratively to resolve complex technical, policy and regulatory issues around the planning of regional digital radio services,’ Richard Bean added.

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Mark Keys
2 Mar 2020 - 8:48 pm

Wtf is going on with dab on gc in se qld? I lived on outskirts of Adel 5 years ago and had dab coverage.
Now on gc for 5 yrs and still no dab coverage. People are now buying new cars with dab radios in them and cant use em if they live on the Gold Coast.
PLEASE get your fingers out and get this moving. What a bunch of slackers!
Mark.
Gold Coast

Sheldon
18 May 2020 - 8:42 pm

This is absolutely stupid! Why does the Gold Coast not have DAB yet???? Why don’t the local radio stations down here broadcast in both? C’mon this has to get sorted! I have DAB in my car.. to which is useless unless you live in Brisbane. I also have many devices that can run DAB, but pointless as it doesn’t frighten work!!!

Denis Topic
20 Jul 2020 - 5:53 pm

I hope to see DAB+ Radio in the Wollongong area Illawarra

Errol
2 Oct 2020 - 1:05 pm

I almost bought a DAB+ digital radio online thinking I could use it on the Gold Coast where I live. Is it still the case that it is not available? I am also in the market for a new car with DAB capability. This technology is old hat in the UK and Europe.
I see a wtf comment made in March. Is that comment still relevant today. The article was written four years ago! Anyone in the know, please advise.

Matt
2 Oct 2020 - 8:46 pm

I thought DAB was supposed to go ahead on the gold coast within 2 to 3 years from 2016. What is wrong with this country? It’s the 21st century and I can’t even get on a train to Sydney or Melbourne yet, we truly are a 3rd word country somehow… Much poorer asian countries have had both for sometime now. What a useless lot controlling this place.

Steve
17 Nov 2020 - 3:17 pm

Still nothing on the Gold Coast! What a backwards little country Australia is!

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