Austria plans to begin a pilot program to test DAB+ before Christmas this year.
According to Gernot Fischer of Verein Digitalradio Österreich (Digital Radio Club Austria), Vienna will likely be the site of the country’s first DAB+ tests. Using two transmitter locations, the pilot will last for one year with the possibility of extending it for a second year.
Austria hopes to rollout DAB+ from the east to the west, although this has not been finalized by the communications authority Kommunikationsbehörde KommAustria nor Rundfunk- und Telekom Regulierungs GmbH, the telecom regulator.
RTR will approve the assignments for the test pilot, although broadcasters should apply to Digital Radio Club Austria to participate. Public broadcaster ORF is expected to take part in the trials. In the coming weeks, contractual details with transmitter operators and radio stations will be clarified, Fischer told Radioszene.
