In 2005, RW reported that Australia chose Eureka-147 as its digital radio technology, seeing digital radio as a supplement to analog rather than a replacement.
Now, the Australian Parliament has passed legislation allowing for DAB+ digital radio services to roll out in the state capitals by Jan. 1, 2009.
Commercial Radio Australia, which represents 98 percent of commercial radio stations in the country, applauded the move.
Australia plans to begin its rollout in major markets such as Sydney, Melbourne and Perth. Some critics were concerned that the Eureka system could not adequately serve rural areas; those legislators pushed for a delay until the Digital Radio Mondiale system could be evaluated. The amendment failed.
