HD Radio Broadcasting Around the World
HD Radio technology is being tested and adopted in more than a dozen countries throughout the world, due in large part to its ability to deliver digital quality sound and services while leveraging existing analog spectrum. There are more stations broadcasting today with HD Radio technology around the world than DAB or DRM. Examples of international HD Radio successes include:
- Argentina - FM HD Radio technology was tested in 2004 with initial trials in Buenos Aires. Further testing of the technology began in early 2007.
- Bosnia - Trial and tests of HD Radio technology began in Sarajevo in March 2007.
- Brazil – About 25 stations in Brazil have converted to HD Radio technology covering an area of 30 million people. The “Brazilian Alliance for Digital Radio,” founded by broadcasters in 2006, continues to promote and support the deployment of HD Radio technology. ANATEL, the regulatory body overseeing radio operations, is conducting the testing necessary for final government approval.
- Brazil – About 25 stations in Brazil have converted to HD Radio technology covering an area of 30 million people. The “Brazilian Alliance for Digital Radio,” founded by broadcasters in 2006, continues to promote and support the deployment of HD Radio technology. ANATEL, the regulatory body overseeing radio operations, is conducting the testing necessary for final government approval.
- Canada - The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) began HD Radio testing in September 2006, focusing on transmissions from Toronto and Peterborough, Ontario. The Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has since revised its policy on digital radio to allow HD Radio operations pursuant to Public Notice CRTC 2006-160.
- Colombia – Caracol Radio began testing of the HD Radio technology in both the AM and FM bands in early 2008.
- China – The first HD Radio test station in China commenced broadcasting in late February 2008 in Beijing. A multi-phase test program is planned by the State
- Administration of Radio, Film & Television (SARFT) throughout 2008.
- Czech Republic – Initial testing of the HD Radio system commenced in Prague in February 2007.
- Dominican Republic – Raíces FM became the first station in the country to broadcast with HD Radio technology in October of 2008. A major national brewery is sponsoring one of the station’s multicasting channels, and the station has distributed more than 3,800 special receivers to promote the channel. Three more FM stations are planning to begin digital broadcasting shortly. INDOTEL, the country’s spectrum regulator, has announced it will authorize any radio station in the country to use HD Radio technology, even before a standard is officially chosen.
- Europe – In September 2007 the European HD Radio Alliance (EHDRA) was formed by broadcasters and other interested groups to promote the adoption of HD Radio technology by European broadcasters, regulators and standards organizations.
- Germany – Radio Regenbogen began HD Radio operations on 102.8 MHz in Heidelberg on December 3, 2007 pursuant to government testing authority.
- Indonesia – Both MW-AM and VHF-FM have been tested in Jakarta and Surabaya respectively. The MW-AM station is a fully operating religious broadcast network; the VHF-FM station was part of HD Radio trials in Jakarta.
- Jamaica – Radio Jamaica began operating full time with both HD Radio AM and FM signals in the city of Kingston in 2008.
- Mexico – All Mexican radio stations within 320 km of the U.S. border are allowed to transmit their programs on the AM and FM bands utilizing HD Radio technology. Approximately nine Mexican AM and FM stations are already operating with HD Radio technology along Mexico’s border area with the US. Groupo Imagen has commenced HD Radio transmissions on XHDL and XEDA in Mexico City during June, 2008.
- New Zealand – Following successful testing on 106.1 MHz from the Skytower in Auckland, the Radio Broadcasters Association (RBA) initiated a comprehensive trial of HD Radio technology in December 2006. The aim of the trial was to assess the coverage potential of the HD Radio system and to make a recommendation on the suitability of the technology for adoption.
- Panama – On Tuesday, May 12, 2009, the Republic of Panama announced that it has selected the HD Radio In-Band, On Channel (IBOC) system as its official digital radio standard.
- Philippines – The first HD Radio station in the Philippines began broadcasting on November 9, 2005. The Philippines National Telecommunications Commission finalized its rules for FM digital radio operations on November 11, 2007.
- Poland – An HD Radio trial began in Warsaw in 2006 in order to demonstrate the technology to local radio stations.
- Switzerland – VHF testing sponsored by Radio Sunshine and Ruoss AG began in Lucerne in April 2006. HD Radio operations in Switzerland continue and are spotlighted each year during “HD Radio Days”, an annual gathering in Lucerne of European broadcasters and manufacturers for the purpose of discussing the rollout of the technology in Europe.
- Thailand - In March 2006, an HD Radio system was installed for a public radio network targeting mass transit commuters in Bangkok by installing HD Radio receivers in public buses.
- Ukraine - The first FM HD Radio broadcasts in Kiev went on the air in October 2006 on two FM stations operated by the First Ukrainian Radio Group.
- Vietnam – Voice of Vietnam (VOV) commenced AM and FM HD Radio transmissions in Hanoi in June, 2008 including multicasting, in anticipation of making HD Radio technology a standard.
- United States – Available to more than 85 percent of the listeners, more than 1,900 HD Radio stations currently on the air; more than 1000 new multicast channels available; an array of the HD Radio receivers available at mass merchant retailers.
For international questions, contact Scott Stull, Vice President of International Broadcast Business Development, stull@ibiquity.com, +1 443-539-4330 or John Schneider, Manager, Business Development - Latin America, schneider@ibiquity.com, +1 217-223-7255.
