Continuation of digital radio trials

The Australian Broadcasting Authority has decided to continue current digital radio trials in Sydney and Melbourne for up to twelve months.

The Sydney and Melbourne trials of the Eureka 147 digital radio system are being conducted by Commercial Radio Australia and Broadcast Australia respectively. Both trial operators are interested in continuing the trials, which make use of VHF Band III spectrum administered by the ABA. The trials were scheduled to expire in May this year, with their continuation subject to a possible call for other expressions of interest in using the spectrum in question.

‘Whether the trials will continue into the longer term will depend on government decisions about how digital radio is to be introduced into Australia,’ said ABA Acting Chair, Lyn Maddock. ‘Recent government and industry announcements suggest that decisions on a way forward are possible before the end of the year. With the situation changing so quickly, the ABA had no wish to disrupt current trial arrangements.’

The ABA has a general policy of encouraging trials of digital radio and any other systems that make use of available broadcasting spectrum. The ABA will consider trial requests from any person for any proper purpose. It is important to note, however, that trial licences confer no longer-term rights over the spectrum in question. It is also important that people considering purchasing digital radio receivers understand the trial nature of current broadcasts and that no decisions have been made on the type of system or the spectrum to be used (eg VHF, L-Band) for digital radio in Australia. The utility of any digital radio receiver will depend on these decisions.

‘The ABA remains willing to consider applications for digital radio trials using other spectrum, or the same spectrum in other localities,’ Ms Maddock said. ‘I am hopeful that information gathered through the trials will be useful in the development of the Government’s digital radio policy.’
Other digital radio technologies that could make use of ABA-administered spectrum include Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM), In-Band On Channel (IBOC) and ISDB-TSB.

Source: Australian Broadcasting Authority