Free to air digital radio reception in Australia is set to improve with the switch on of 12 commercial radio industry-funded DAB+ on channel repeaters, according to Commercial Radio Australia.
The transmitters are expected to boost digital radio coverage in heavily populated urban areas and extend coverage in geographically challenging environments and at the boundaries of the license areas in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.
The OCR solution has been trialed successfully in the Melbourne CBD and has resulted in improved in-building reception of digital radio services, says the CRA.
The Melbourne central business district is the first of 12 repeater sites that have been licensed by the Australian Communications and Media Authority. Repeaters in Bacchus Marsh and Fishermen’s Bend are also planned there.
In Sydney, sites include Collaroy, Newport, Winmalee, Mt. Badgelly, Redfern and in the Sydney CBD. Mt. Mee will host a transmitter to service Brisbane’s northwest, while Perth’s DAB+ coverage will be boosted by repeaters in the Perth CBD and Minderie. There is no current need for repeaters in Adelaide.
