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Last update: 29.04.2024 - older versions

Radio Nacional de España begins DAB+ broadcasts

Coinciding with the celebration of World Radio Day and the centenary year of radio in Spain, Radio Nacional de España has started digital radio broadcasts in DAB+ together with Cellnex Telecom on 13 February 2024, with the firm intention of deploying this digital radio standard in our country, which is set to replace FM in the long term.

You can listen to the following broadcasts on DAB+:

- Radio Nacional and Radio 5 in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, Murcia and Bilbao.

- Radio 3 in Valencia, Seville, Murcia and Bilbao.

These broadcasts are in addition to the existing DAB broadcasts of Radio Nacional, Radio Clásica, Radio 3, Radio 5 and Radio Exterior in Madrid and Barcelona.

On a monthly basis, RNE's offer on DAB+ and the coverage of the service will be progressively increased, starting broadcasts in other Spanish cities. On 19 March 2024, Radio Nacional, Radio 3 and Radio 5 launched on DAB+ in the metropolitan area of Santiago de Compostela. On 18 April 2024, DAB+ broadcasts launched in Pamplona.

Once deployed throughout Spain, DAB+ will allow Radio Televisión Española to provide the public radio broadcasting service in the terms currently entrusted to it by law, providing maximum geographical and social coverage, with the best quality and additional services specific to DAB+ and with free-to-air broadcasts and free reception.

Regional DAB+

In January 2020, the regional government in Navarra advertised capacity for six DAB services on a future ensemble for the region, designated FU-Nav. Simultaneously, the regional government advertised a total of 72 DAB licences across 12 ensembles, each of which will have local coverage.

In Mallorca, a multiplex licensed by the Autonomous Government of the Balearic Islands began broadcasting in February 2024, broadcasting four stations from the Serra de Alfabia.

Last update: 18.04.2024 - older versions

RNE DAB+ services are on air in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, Murcia, Bilbao, Santiago de Compostela and Pamplona.

These broadcasts join the existing ones on DAB in Madrid and Barcelona.

RNE will increase monthly its content offer and coverage on DAB+ until the end of 2024.

RNE coverage: > 30% population

Rest of national stations: 20% population

Last update: 04.03.2024 - older versions

In this country there are

National multiplexes: 3 Regular

on air.

Please note:

(a) These web pages are updated regularly to reflect current services on air, however they may not be exactly up to date.

(b) The logos shown on these pages are for illustrative purposes only – manufacturers and broadcasters are directed here for information on implementing station logos.

A total of 18 DAB and 4 DAB+ legal audio services are on air, but enhanced features as text, images or programme guides are not available.

	Simulcast on AM / FM	Exclusive on digital	Total of services
DAB programmes	17	2	19
DAB+ programmes	3	0	3
Total	20	2	22

Last update: 04.03.2024 - older versions

In Spain, 98% of new cars sold in 2023 have DAB+ as standard (Source: JATO Dynamics 2023).

Last update: 04.03.2024 - older versions

Almost a 5% of digital radio receivers sold in retailers includes DAB/DAB+ receiver, although no DAB/DAB+ national promotion has been carried out.

It is estimated that nearly 3 million cars already have a DAB/DAB+ receiver in Spain.

Last update: 21.10.2019 - older versions

Spanish Broadcaster Radio Maria (http://www.radiomaria.es/) started DAB+ test transmissions in Madrid and Barcelona on 2014 December 30th.

This is the first time DAB+ has been used for radio broadcasting in Spain. This DAB/DAB+ network is operated by the Broadcast Network Operator Cellnex Telecom.

Last update: 04.03.2024 - older versions

National station licenses are issued by the central government, while local and regional licenses are the responsibility of the regional government. Licenses are valid for 15 years with an automatic renewal for a further 15 years. Advertising and sponsorship are permitted under the same rules which exist for analogue radio, and data is permitted on up to 20% of multiplex capacity.

Digital Audio Broadcasting is allowed by law in Band III.

There are three layers of services set out by law:

National, with 1 SFN multiplex and 2 MFN multiplexes
Regional (Comunidad Autónoma basis), with 1/3 SFN multiplex (nowadays without transmissions) and 2/3 MFN multiplex (not implemented)
Local, with 237 areas covered by different frequency blocks in Band III

Nowadays, due to the entry into force of the Digitalization Plan for Terrestrial Broadcasting, DAB services are on air only to cover a 20% of the Spanish population (Madrid and Barcelona including their metropolitan areas). It is the minimum population coverage required by the current National Technical Plan for Digital Audio Broadcasting.

RNE is providing DAB+ services covering a percentage of the population above that minimum.

Energy efficiency and sustainability of radio broadcasting in Spain

10.03.2022 - Spain

Javier Sanchez: "Perhaps it is worth opening a dialogue on the energy efficiency and sustainability of the radio in Spain... Extending it to the entire broadcast network in the territorial scope of coverage, it can be immediately deduced that electricity savings can be obtained by migrating from FM to DAB+."

(Gorka Zumeta) Read more

The dangers of not digitising FM in Spain

03.06.2021 - Spain

Third parties can remove content from a radio station unilaterally and without justification. No radio broadcaster anywhere in the world wants to use 5G broadcast and no internet operator has expressed their willingness to open that line of business. Because there is neither use case nor business case.

(Gorkazumeta.com) Read more

Coast FM launches on DAB in the Canary Islands

30.04.2021 - Spain

Despite any clear regulation in place in regards to the broadcast of DAB in Spain, Coast FM has become the first radio network in the Canary Islands to broadcast on DAB digital radio.

(Gorka Zumeta) Read more

Spain urged to develop digital radio plan by Compromís

30.04.2021 - Spain

Spain's Compromís parliamentary group is urging the Spanish government to urgently address the promotion and rollout of DAB+ digital radio broadcasting.

(Tercera Informacion) Read more

Spanish political party seeks DAB+ rollout fund

15.01.2021 - Spain

Carles Mulet, senator of Valencian political party Compromís has requested that part of the funds secured as part of Next Generation EU - a recovery fund aimed at supporting EU member states hit by the COVID-19 pandemic - be used to facilitate the rollout of DAB+ in Spain.

(Compromís) Read more

Spain's digital radio proposal to be debated at Plenary sitting

29.10.2020 - Spain

The new proposed law put forward by political party Compromís - which aims to enable the development of DAB+ digital radio in Spain in line with the rest of Europe - will now be debated at a Plenary sitting on Tuesday 3 November.

(Compromís) Read more

Spain's digital radio proposal passes without objections

18.09.2020 - Spain

The new proposed law put forward by political party Compromís - which aims to enable the development of DAB+ digital radio in Spain in line with the rest of Europe - did not gather any objections following its consultation. The proposal will now be debated at a Plenary sitting.

(Compromís) Read more

Spain to implement EECC regulation into national legislation

11.09.2020 - Spain

According to the latest draft for Spain's Telecoms Regulation, starting from 21 December 2020, all car radio receivers that are built into new class M vehicles in Spain will be required to include digital terrestrial broadcasting capabilities.

( 57/5000 Ministry of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation) Read more

Spain urged to develop digital radio plan by Izquierda Confederal

04.09.2020 - Spain

Spain's Izquierda Confederal parliamentary group has presented before the Senate a Proposal to introduce a Law to urgently address the promotion and development of terrestrial digital radio broadcasting.

(Panorama Audiovisual) Read more

Spanish law proposal for introduction of urgent digital radio measures begins its processing soon

01.09.2020 - Spain

The initiative, promoted by the party Compromís, is in the Senate in the amendment period until September 17. The concrete measures are expected to be discussed later in the Committee on Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation.

(Gorka Zumeta) Read more