Nine new organisations have joined WorldDAB since the start of 2018, taking its membership to 104 organisations from 29 countries, including over 1,200 experts from broadcasters, regulators and network providers through to manufacturers of receivers, chips, professional equipment and automobiles.
WorldDAB is the global industry association responsible for defining and promoting DAB digital radio. By bringing together radio industry professionals, WorldDAB provides knowledge and expertise that helps countries successfully adopt and implement broadcast digital radio.
Italian public broadcaster Rai, vehicle manufacturers General Motors and Toyota, Croatian network operator Transmitters and Communications Ltd., content service provider Pluxbox, automotive solution providers Nextbase and In2digi and professional equipment manufacturers Avateq Corp. and Inovonics Inc. have all joined WorldDAB since the start of 2018.
WorldDAB's membership has grown by over 30% since 2012 and the latest members reflect the growing interest in DAB+ worldwide, from new countries rolling out trials to those expanding coverage and major manufacturers from the automotive and professional equipment markets.
Bernie O'Neill, Project Director, WorldDAB said: “We're delighted to welcome these new members who are representative of our key member constituencies and the global reach of our membership. They reflect our core remit of fostering cross-industry collaboration and the exchange of best practice on the rollout of DAB+ digital radio. WorldDAB is the only place where members, through our events and seminars, committees and working groups, can find access to information and guidance on all aspects of rolling out digital radio – technical, regulation, business cases, marketing and content.”
The last 12 months have seen significant progress for digital radio, with Norway switching off FM, Switzerland preparing for digital switchover 2020-2024 and the UK almost at 50% digital listening (49.9%), which will trigger a review on digital switchover. Italy has passed a law requiring all radio receivers to have digital capability from 1 Jan 2020, and in France, 20% population coverage is expected this year, also triggering receiver regulation.
In Asia Pacific, services are on-air in Indonesia, new trials are expected this year in Thailand, seven countries have services on-air in the Middle East and the DAB+ trial in South Africa was extended to April 2018.