Ofcom has today awarded small-scale DAB multiplex licences for five more areas in the UK.
Small-scale DAB is an innovative technology which provides a low-cost way for local commercial, community and specialist music services to take to the digital airwaves.
These latest awards mark the conclusion of the round six small-scale DAB multiplex licences. Following a competitive process, where each applicant was judged against specific criteria, multiplex licences have been awarded for the following areas:
- Huntingdon: licence awarded to Huntingdon Digital Limited
- Nuneaton & Hinckley: licence awarded to Maxxwave Limited
- Walsall: licence awarded to Walsall DAB Limited
- Wetherby: licence awarded to Wetherby Community Radio Limited
- Yeovil: licence awarded to Radio Ninesprings
Alongside these awards, we have published the 24 applications we have received for the 33 licences advertised in round seven.
The applications will be assessed against the statutory criteria, with decisions expected in the coming months.
Round Eight awards on the horizon
We are also today announcing the list of areas that we will be advertising later this year in round eight. This will be the last currently planned round of small-scale DAB multiplex licensing as part of this programme.
Future priorities for radio licensing
Ofcom will be consulting later this year on our broadcast radio licensing priorities. We recognise that there is some demand for more analogue licensing, particularly in unserved and rural areas where small-scale DAB coverage is harder to achieve in a sustainable way.
There is also some demand for extensions and improvements to SSDAB multiplex coverage areas, as well as other potential calls upon our licensing and spectrum planning resources.