Today, Wednesday March 1, TDF starts broadcasting DAB+ digital radio at its sites in Reims-ville (Marne), Troyes-Saint-André-les-Vergers (Aube), Sompuis (Marne) and Berru (Marne).
These four TDF sites cover the Reims conurbation, the towns of Troyes and Vitry-le-François, and more generally the A26 freeway for car reception. A fifth TDF site will be commissioned by the summer to cover the town of Château-Thierry and the A4 freeway to Reims.
The population of this area will eventually be able to receive thirteen digital-quality radio stations.
To enable these radios to be broadcast in DAB+, TDF teams installed new technical facilities at each of the four TDF sites concerned. This major project involved the installation of a new antenna system, a multiplexing cell and associated transmitters. Infrastructure adaptation work was also carried out.
In addition to broadcasting DAB+, the TDF infrastructures at Berru, Reims-ville, Troyes-Saint-André and Sompuis also broadcast FM radio and host cell phone operators.
As the benchmark technical operator for terrestrial television and radio broadcasting, TDF has been involved in the development of DAB+ for many years. TDF's laboratories have made a major contribution to the definition and standardization of this technology. Today, TDF is mobilized for the deployment of DAB+ broadcasting services in mainland France.
DAB+ (Digital Audio Broadcasting) is a digital terrestrial broadcasting system for radio, similar to DTT for television. It enables radio stations to offer their listeners high quality sound, but also to transmit additional information and visuals in addition to the audio stream. This technology, which complements FM broadcasting, enriches the French radio landscape.
To receive DAB+, you need a radio or car radio equipped with this technology. Since the end of 2019, all radio receivers sold in France, except car radios, integrate DAB+. And from 2020, all new car radios sold in France will also include DAB+. As with the FM band, DAB+ radio reception remains completely free of charge.
Karim El Naggar, Managing Director of TDF's Audiovisual and Networks BU, comments: "We are delighted to be launching digital radio in the extended Reims allotment, broadcast from four TDF sites. TDF has had a strong territorial presence in the region for many years. When it comes to DAB+, TDF is committed to supporting its customers, the program publishers, to best meet their digital coverage needs. To do this, we are drawing on our expertise in radio broadcasting over almost 50 years to provide a complete DAB+ offering, from feed collection and headend, to signal transport via our entire existing network, and of course broadcasting."
