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Cymraeg

HERO_digital radio small scale licences

Small-scale DAB licences awarded for five more areas

TV, radio and on-demand Digital radio News and updates News

Published: 11 November 2025

Ofcom has today awarded small-scale DAB multiplex licences for five more areas across 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.

So far, 79 multiplexes have launched broadcasting to listeners across all four nations of the UK. In total, the small-scale DAB programme will enable the launch of over 100 multiplexes.

Following a competitive process, where each applicant was judged against specific criteria, multiplex licences have been awarded for the following areas:

Lancaster: licence awarded to North Lancashire DAB Limited
North Somerset: licence awarded to Bath Digital Radio
Oban: licence awarded to: Caledonia TX Limited
Taunton: licence awarded to Taunton DAB Limited
West Oxfordshire: licence awarded to WOXDAB

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Ofcom announces further awards in sixth wave of small-scale DAB licensing

Ofcom has today awarded small-scale DAB multiplex licences for three more UK areas. We are also consulting on varying the licence to provide the Newcastle & Gateshead small-scale multiplex.

Ofcom invites applications for seventh round of small-scale DAB licences

Applications have opened for the seventh round of small-scale DAB radio multiplex licences for 29 areas across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Hundreds of new local stations take to the digital airwaves

Ofcom has today published a progress update on its small-scale DAB roll-out across the UK over the past 3 years, with 115 licences awarded and 64 new multiplexes so far launched.

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