Norway is on its way to be the first nation to ditch FM radio altogether in favor of digital radio.
Starting 2017, in order to pick up radio signals, citizens will need to own a digital-signal enabled radio with a digital receiver or listen on the internet, the government said in an official statement . The country already does not use the AM band for radio transmissions.
Unlike the US which has many commercial operators of channels, the government owns most of its airways and has determined that digital is more efficient to meet its needs. Its BBC/CBC-like government affiliated broadcaster NRK dominates the airwaves
“Radio digitization will open the door to a far greater range of radio channels, benefiting listeners across the country,” Norway’s culture minister Thorhild Widvey said in a statement. “Listeners will have access to more diverse and pluralistic radio content, and enjoy better sound quality and new functionality. Digitization will also greatly improve the emergency preparedness system, facilitate increased competition and offer new opportunities for innovation and development,”
The technology used by the Norwegian government for broadcasts, DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting), is rarely used in the United States but commonplace in western Europe, China, and Australia.
The only trouble could arise for emergency situations when land telephones, internet access and mobile towers fail given that most Norwegians do not have cheap, battery-operated digital radios to use in case of emergencies.
h/t Fast Company
