South African radio broadcasters are set to start trialling digital radio channels using the DAB+ standard, the Sunday Times reported.<\/p>\n
The Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) standard has been in use since the 1990s, and its successor, DAB+, was introduced in 2007.<\/p>\n
The formats are digital successors to the AM and FM standards.<\/p>\n
Industry players (including ICASA) have been in discussions on how the formats were introduced in other markets and how best to approach its introduction here, the report said.<\/p>\n
Radio stations that want to participate in the trial will be provided a free DAB+ signal from state-owned signal distributor, Sentech.<\/p>\n
Alongside DAB+, South African broadcasters will also be trialling the Digital Radio Mondiale technology, which will ultimately replace medium-wave broadcasts, the report said.<\/p>\n
The trials are expected to begin in Gauteng in 2014, though TV broadcasters will likely still be using the spectrum set aside for DAB+ when the trial ends, the paper reported.<\/p>\n
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