SMALL SCALE DAB COMING TO NORTH BUCKS

Following a decision by OFCOM, Bucks DAB Ltd is delighted to announce it has been awarded a licence to operate the small-scale DAB multiplex for North Buckinghamshire.

The news means Bucks Radio, Stoke Mandeville Hospital Radio and 3Bs Radio, together with a host of other new and local radio stations, will be able to be heard on DAB digital radios.

Richard Carr, Managing Director of Bucks Radio, said: "We welcome the decision from OFCOM, and this is the news we have been hoping for since we launched over 2 years ago. A DAB licence was always in our plans, but we've had to wait patiently for the broadcast area to be advertised, and then again while the application was reviewed and then approved.

Bucks Radio has gone from strength to strength since its launch in February 2021, and today's news will enable us to continue to grow and increase our potential audience. We are delighted that in-car listening in particular will be much easier for our audience now and cannot wait to start work on the necessary installations to progress the project.”

Keith Lewis from 3Bs Radio commented: “The 3Bs Radio team are delighted to receive the announcement from OFCOM about the DAB licence award. This will improve our coverage even further to the Buckingham area and we cannot wait to commence broadcasting.

It is also a double day of celebrating as we are also part of the NOxDAB licence, also awarded today enabling us to cover the other 2Bs in our area, Brackley and Bicester.”

Simon Daniels, Chairman of Stoke Mandeville Hospital Radio said: “It is fantastic news for radio listeners in Aylesbury and North Buckinghamshire that listeners will have an even greater choice of radio stations to choose from on DAB digital radio provided by Bucks DAB Ltd. 

“It will mean radio stations here, providing true local content, will be able to be heard on the latest platform. Stoke Mandeville Hospital Radio looks forward to joining the platform in due course.”

The area advertised by OFCOM includes Aylesbury, Buckingham, Winslow, Waddesdon, Whitchurch, Aston Clinton, Thame, Tring and Leighton Buzzard. They estimate the population covered to be 203,736.

Bucks DAB must now agree specific technical details with Ofcom and begin building the transmission sites they proposed in its application.   A launch date is yet to be announced, but Ofcom rules state all multiplexes must be on-air within 18 months of award. 

What is Small Scale DAB?

Small-scale DAB is a new way of transmitting digital radio using software and low-cost computer technology to provide a flexible and inexpensive approach to the terrestrial broadcast of digital radio services.

The system enables services to broadcast to a relatively small geographic area.

Unlike analogue FM radio where only one station can use a frequency, with digital broadcasts a number of stations can be transmitted together on the same frequency. This is called a multiplex. A multiplex can carry between 20 and 30 stations.