Federal Council sets the course for digital radio

Biel-Bienne, 29.03.2006 - The Federal Council is opting for digital radio for terrestrial broadcasting of regional-language radio programmes. It is therefore giving the green light to the establishment of a second terrestrial digital radio platform in German-speaking Switzerland. The Federal Council is not making any radical changes to the analogue broadcasting of radio programmes on VHF.

Today, radio is the most-used electronic medium for disseminating information and entertainment to the population. An extensive network of transmitters makes it possible to receive a wide range of programmes practically everywhere, both at home and on the move. As in the whole of Europe, wireless terrestrial broadcasting of radio programmes in Switzerland predominantly uses analogue technology in the very high frequency (VHF) band. The density of stations in the VHF frequency band does not allow reception quality to be improved whilst simultaneously broadcasting new programmes. These objectives can be achieved only by digitising the broadcasting channels.

However, the Federal Council is of the opinion that VHF broadcasting technology will continue to predominate in the years ahead. In accord with the overwhelming majority of broadcasters, it is therefore in favour of maintaining the current principles for the planning of VHF transmitter networks. In particular, it rejects far-reaching technical planning changes merely to make room for a few new stations. In view of the fact that there are interesting prospects for digitising the VHF frequency band in the medium term, the Federal Council is obliging the planning authority to refrain from any measures which might adversely affect this possible leap in technology at a later date.

For the Federal Council, it is clear that at the regional language level only T-DAB digital technology will be able to provide space for new radio programmes. Further developments in this standard will also allow multimedia applications in the future. The SRG SSR is already offering an initial range of T-DAB programmes in many parts of Switzerland. In addition, in an initial step, a second digital platform based on the T-DAB standard is to be established in German-speaking Switzerland. This platform is intended primarily to enable private broadcasters to provide regional-language programming, but should also be available to the SRG SSR.  The public invitation to tender for the corresponding broadcasting licences is expected to take place in the summer of 2006. Subsequently, the expansion of a second digital radio platform in French-speaking Switzerland and in Ticino is envisaged.

The Federal Council’s decisions are based on various studies and analyses on the future of the radio landscape in Switzerland and on the results of a survey of requirements which OFCOM conducted last year with the players in the media sector. The course which has been adopted will be followed by the overwhelming majority of the parties involved – in particular the SRG SSR and most radio broadcasters.


Address for enquiries

René Wehrlin, Radio and Television Division, Federal Office of Communications OFCOM, 032 327 55 96



Publisher

Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications
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