DAB goes digital [digital audio broadcasting]

DAB digital radio is a remarkable technology, fulfilling its promise of reliably delivering high quality digital audio in the most challenging mobile and fixed receiver environments. DAB digital radio´s success in the UK is outstripping forecasts and already it is the most listened to platform for digital radio. The same Eureka147 standard has begun to be used to deliver video and data alongside the radio services direct to mobile phones, creating the first truly converged interactive service platform. Commercial multimedia services are launching in the UK, Korea and Germany this year because networks, spectrum and receiver technologies are already in place. This presentation examines these developments and show how data transmissions as a part of DAB digital radio is transforming the user experience years ahead of other broadcast technologies and platforms. It shows that whilst regulators and industry often assume TV as the only broadcast media that matters, it is in fact radio that has been delivering spectrum efficiency, consumer benefits and is forging the new world of multimedia broadcasting. Digital One is the pioneer of commercial DAB digital radio, operating the world´s largest terrestrial DAB network and is responsible for developing the chipset that powers 75% of all DAB receivers.