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Thailand Settles on DAB+

National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission plans to launch digital radio in 2018

Thailand’s National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission plans to launch digital radio in 2018 and states that guidelines should be finalized before the start of a nationwide trial.

DAB+ licenses are to be gradually sold nationwide, regionally and then locally. The first trial DAB+ broadcasts began in Bangkok in March 2013. Following the successful license auction for commercial digital TV channels in December 2013, the NBTC is looking to auction a number of business broadcasting services for digital radio by 2018.

The auction will be held on a phase-by-phase basis, and NBTC is working on the technical aspects to determine how many licenses would be made available as well as how to launch the multiplexes.

Thailand’s digital radio will be provided on Band III and the number of digital radio licenses should be enough to cover the existing radio broadcasters. Thailand also proposes that in the future Community radio should be on low power FM.

As recently as 2013, Thailand was still deciding between the various digital radio standards of DAB+, DRM and HD Radio. It seems as though DAB+ won out.

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