The CSA on Wednesday set July 15 as the date on which radios will be able to start broadcasting their programs nationally in DAB +, a decisive step in the deployment of this digital terrestrial broadcasting technology, already available in most large metropolises.
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In all, 25 stations will benefit from these frequencies, which have been allocated to them through calls for tenders, the CSA recalled in a press release.
These are 22 radio stations already broadcast in FM on all or part of the territory (including large generalists such as Europe 1, France Inter, RMC or RTL and musicals such as Fun radio, NRJ, RTL 2, Skyrock or Virgin Radio, as well as thematic stations like BFM Business or franceinfo), plus new arrivals in the radio landscape (Air Zen, BFM Radio and Skyrock Klassiks).
Initially, the CSA had planned a start in December 2020, but in view of the health crisis, the regulator had agreed to postpone the deadline by six months, thus giving the stations more time to make the necessary investments.
"We had granted a six-month moratorium and today's decision confirms what we had agreed with the radios"
, and
"except disaster related to Covid, we hope that everything can start on July 15"
, explained to AFP Nicolas Curien, member of the college of the CSA in charge of this file.
Major step
This is a major step in the deployment of DAB +, which the CSA decided to accelerate in 2017, after a sluggish start.
Since his arrival in Paris, Marseille and Nice in 2014, regional launches have followed one another (Lille, Lyon and Strasbourg in 2018, Nantes and Rouen in 2019, then Toulouse and Bordeaux at the end of 2020).
Already nearly 30% of French people can benefit from the best sound and the largest choice of stations offered by this broadcasting standard.
And these national frequencies must give new impetus to its adoption: in particular, they will make it possible to listen to stations on the move, for example when traveling in large urban areas and on major roads.
“The phase of setting up the network of transmitters is now beginning to prepare for the start of emissions next summer on the Paris-Lyon-Marseille axis.
This period will also be used to intensify the promotion to the public of this new way of listening to the radio ”
, underlines the CSA.
