DAB radio faces threat from satellite rival

DAB radio, the digital radio format promoted by the UK Government, commercial radio sector and BBC, is facing a challenge from a subscription satellite radio which is set to launch throughout Europe.

Ondas Media, a Madrid-based satellite radio group funded by German and Swiss investors, has agreedments to provide its radio devices to car manufacturers including BMW and Nissan. Deals are also expected with Audi, Mazda, Toyota, Honda and Jaguar.

Ondas have also announced a deal to broadcast Britain’s Jazz FM when Ondas’ satellite service launches in 2012. Jazz FM chief executive Richard Wheatly will work with the group to create additional specialist radio channels with tailored content. The satellite radio company is also in talks with the BBC.

Ondas plans to launch with 150 channels in 2012, with devices which will have the capacity for multi-lingual radio, music, video and data services. The devices will be built under licence from Ondas by electronics manufacturers including Bosch, Continental and Delphi. The monthly subscription is expected to be in the region of €10-€12 a month for individuals.

Carmakers have been viewed as vital to making a success of DAB radio, but they have been slow to offer DAB radios in their models, with scepticism about the UK’s commitment to DAB, whether another platform might take its place and whether there will ever be a universal digital standard throughout Europe.

Ondas are also hoping that households and individuals will invest in the technology, which could be available in other devices, including mobile phones and Tom Tom sat nav devices.

Upgrading DAB

A new DAB+ upgradeable radio has been released by Pure.

In the opinion of some, all existing DAB radios will become obsolete in a few years time when the existing DAB compression standard (MPEG2) is replaced by the new DAB+ standard of AAC+.

Pure Digital has released its first DAB+ upgradeable receiver, called the Siesta, a clock radio with an recommended retail price of £50.

The software upgrade will be via a USB socket on the back of the radio and should become available later this year - at a small cost (in the region of £7 or £8).

Officially, the UK has no plans ever to move from, what some regards as, the low-quality MP2-based version of DAB the manufacturers are currently selling.

If the expected upgrade of the DAB system goes ahead, all current DAB radios could be unable to receive anything in a few year's time due to use of the new AAC+ audio codec instead of the old MP2 format.

Pure Digital recently announced their intention to switch over to DAB+ receivers by the end of 2008 and other manufacturers are expected to follow suit.

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