The Swedish radio and television authority has approved 25 digital radio stations. They are divided into 21 national four regional commercial broadcast licenses. Twelve of the national channels are unique to digital radio and not broadcast in FM, according to Teracom.
Groups that have been granted the licenses include DB Media AB; SBS Discovery Ltd; RBS Broadcasting AB; and Norrköping Radio & Co.
The licenses are valid from Oct. 2 this year though Sept. 30, 2022. In order for the licenses to remain valid, the stations must be on the air by Oct. 1, 2015; however, they could begin broadcasts as of October 2 this year.
Those with national licenses must comply with an additional timetable. Thirty-five percent of the country’s population should be covered by July 1, 2016; 50 percent by July 1, 2017; 70 percent by July 1, 2018.
The authority received 26 applications from seven different broadcasters; only one application was rejected in November 2012 on procedural grounds.
