DAB + in Poland – everything you need to know about the digitization of radio receivers

What is DAB +

DAB + (Digital Audio Broadcasting Plus) is a digital standard for fixed broadcasting, which in the future is to replace analogue broadcasting by Polish radio stations.

Thanks to DAB +, we can listen to radio stations with digital sound quality without interference, and on the digital radio display it allows you to display descriptions, pictures or traffic information.

Since when has DAB + been operating in Poland?

In Poland, the first broadcasting of radio stations in DAB + is dated October 1, 2013, its precursor was Polish Radio, which still has the most programs broadcast in this technology.

Commercial stations are not very eager to digitize radio, often pointing out that this is already taking place in the form of broadcasting radio stations over the Internet. Whether using players on the websites of Polish stations or directly from dedicated mobile applications.

Nevertheless, the National Broadcasting Council stubbornly pushes this idea, pointing to the problem of exhausted frequency resources of analogue radio and the need for further development of radio in Poland, thanks to the switch to DAB +.

Witold Kołodziejski, chairman of the National Broadcasting Council:

We think only about digital radio, we think about the DAB + system. Analog frequencies are exhausted, so we respond negatively to all applications that come to the National Broadcasting Council for launch, because analog frequencies can be said that at the moment there are no more . UKE is doing its best to select frequencies where it is necessary to supplement the coverage, but in fact the resources have run out. This does not mean, however, that the possibilities of radio development are over.

The digitization of the radio in Poland would give more space for the current and new radio stations, and this is not the only advantage, because with DAB + we would get better radio quality and possibilities.

President of Digital Poland, Michał Kanownik:

The benefits of digital radio will certainly be appreciated by the audience, as the digital signal will contribute to a more varied offer and will allow access to more information. Besides, since we aspire to invest in the digital economy, the digitization of radio should be a natural consequence of this.

DAB + radio range

According to the initial announcements, by the end of 2020, the coverage of DAB + radio was to cover all of Poland. The reality, however, is slightly different, the plans have been verified and today it is about 60% of the country’s area, and the population range – 80%.