Australia: Digital Radio trials to start in Canberra

Digital radio will go regional from July as Commercial Radio Australia and SBS commence trials of DAB+ in the Nation's Capital, bringing regional rollout a step closer.

The trial in Canberra will be done in two phases; first local radio broadcasters Capital Radio (2CA and 2CC, plus two digital-only services) as well as theARN/Austereo joint venture (Mix 106.3 and 104.7 fm, plus two digital-only services) joining with SBS to jointly fund a low power trial from Black Mountain, meanwhile politicians will be able to access digital radio first hand as a trial signal is directly aimed at Parliament House.

CEO of Commercial Radio Australia, Joan Warner said that the trials is a step towards making digital radio available to the whole country:

"The radio industry is committed to ensuring all Australians are able to access free to air radio broadcasting via digital technology. People living in regional Australia must have the same rights of access to digital radio as do those living in the five big cities.

"We do not want to see a nation of metropolitan digital 'haves' and regional digital 'have nots'."

The Federal Government are yet to commit to the allocation of spectrum to allow for the expansion of digital radio services to regional areas.   Further regional trials are proposed in Darwin and either Townsville or Hobart.

Source:Digital Radio trials to start in Canberra | The Spy Report ( http://bit.ly/a8ei3J)

(Yimber Gaviria, Colombia)