DAB+ digital radio technology is being tested out for the first time in Hanoi, Vietnam this weekend.

The trial, which takes place on Saturday, follows an introductory workshop on DAB+ today (Friday) ahead of next week’s Radio Asia conference.

Delegates will be driven round Hanoi in vehicles fitted with DAB+ digital radios to try out the technology.

The DAB+ transmitters will relay existing Voice of Vietnam radio services.

DAB+ was launched internationally in 2007 as a major upgrade to the DAB standard of digital audio broadcasting.

The technology provides higher quality audio due to more advanced codecs and several experts say the reception quality is more robust.

Australia, together with Ireland, Malta, Switzerland, The Netherlands and Germany, already use DAB+ and several countries are looking to upgrade their current DAB technology.

It is expected that China, Vietnam and Thailand will adopt digital radio soon and DAB+ is one of the standards being considered.

Findings from the workshop and tests, conducted by World DMB and Commercial Radio Australia, will be presented at the Radio Asia conference in Hanoi next week.