Norway is moving to DAB digital radio, as it is the standard of choice across Europe and beyond with over 500 million able to receive services. Norway was the first to set an FM switch-off date of 2020, with Switzerland following in 2020, while other countries like the UK are monitoring progress. DAB coverage exceeds FM coverage in Norway and continues to expand across the country as well as in tunnels. The technology is not outdated as development began in the 1980s and continues to evolve, providing benefits over FM such as more reliable emergency broadcasts. The transition has been extensively studied in Norway over 15 years and supported by government and industry.

1. MYTH:
Norway is the only country moving to DAB
FACT:
Norway is not alone in moving to DAB – it’s the digital radio standard of choice in Europe, Asia Pacific
and beyond, with over 500 million people now able to receive DAB services as rollouts continue to
accelerate.
Norway was the first country that set a date for FM switch-off with Switzerland due to start theirs in
2020 and other countries including the UK watching closely.
Source: http://dabmytene.no/
Norway DAB mythbusters

2. Norway DAB mythbusters
MYTH:
DAB has poor coverage
FACT:
On FM there is only one channel, NRK P1, which has 99.5% population coverage.
DAB has more than 10 NRK channels with 99.5% population coverage and commercial radio stations
cover over 92% of the population, compared to 90% on FM.
NRK and commercial DAB coverage continues to be strengthened.
Source: http://dabmytene.no/

3. MYTH:
DAB won’t work in tunnels
FACT:
DAB coverage in tunnels continues to be rolled out and the expansion will be completed before the
FM switch off.
Source: http://dabmytene.no/
Norway DAB mythbusters

4. MYTH:
DAB is an outdated technology
FACT:
DAB is the digital radio standard of choice in Europe, Asia Pacific and beyond, with over 500 million
people now able to receive DAB services, as rollouts continue to accelerate.
The development of the DAB standard started in the 80s, after internet and mobile telephony
standards that started development in the '70s. All are examples of flexible, digital solutions that are
constantly being developed.
Source: http://dabmytene.no/
Norway DAB mythbusters

5. MYTH:
We don’t need DAB when we have the internet
FACT:
The internet is a good radio platform, but traditional broadcasting is much stronger and gives the
radio characteristics that listeners expect.
DAB offers the most cost effective, reliable and secure solution for broadcast radio, with free-to-air
coverage and functionality that is unmatched by any alternative method of distribution.
Source: http://dabmytene.no/
Norway DAB mythbusters

6. MYTH:
DAB isn’t as effective for emergency broadcasts
FACT:
The DAB network has considerable benefits over FM when it comes to emergency transmissions.
The risk of failure of transmitters in extreme situations is greatly reduced compared to an FM network
thanks to the way DAB is delivered.
DAB/DAB+ digital radio rebroadcast systems also enable tunnel operators to replace audio
programmes with live or pre-recorded announcements.
Source: http://dabmytene.no/
Norway DAB mythbusters

7. MYTH:
Sweden said ’no’ to DAB
FACT:
All major Swedish radio broadcasters are united behind the desire for digitization and officials are
awaiting developments in for example Norway before proceeding.
Swedish commercial radio stations have been licensed to send 21 national channels on DAB and over
3 million people can currently receive DAB services.
Source: http://dabmytene.no/
Norway DAB mythbusters

8. MYTH:
The move to DAB was never fully investigated in Norway
FACT:
Public discussion about DAB has lasted for more than 15 years and the Ministry of Culture has
published three white papers on the digitization of radio over a long period.
Nine ministers of culture and four broadcasting bosses have enjoyed the transition to digital radio on
their agenda. In 2005 Media Authority (a task force) compiled a report "Digital radio in Norway.” This
group, with the entire radio industry represented, ended up recommending a transition to digital
radio and the broadcasters' choice of technology was DAB.
Source: http://dabmytene.no/
Norway DAB mythbusters

9. MYTH:
No new cars have DAB
FACT:
The majority of car manufacturers now offer DAB as standard or as an option in markets with DAB
services. In Norway all major brands offer DAB digital radio.
In the UK 85% of new cars come with DAB as standard – a figure that other countries are catching up
to.
Around 50% of drivers say they will wait until the switch over before upgrading.
Source: http://dabmytene.no/
Norway DAB mythbusters

10. MYTH:
Switching off FM will remove local radio
FACT:
The vast majority of local radio stations will continue to transmit on FM. More than 200 local radio
stations have extended FM licenses by 2017.
Source: http://dabmytene.no/
Norway DAB mythbusters

11. MYTH:
Nobody owns a DAB receiver
FACT:
Over 66% of Norwegian households already own a DAB receiver
Source: http://dabmytene.no/
Norway DAB mythbusters

12. MYTH:
DAB and FM should just live side by side
FACT:
Double deployment is very expensive in the extensive and hilly terrain in Norway.
Much of today's FM network is now approaching the end of its technical life and the investment for
maintenance and upgrading would exceeded the cost of the new DAB networks.
Source: http://dabmytene.no/
Norway DAB mythbusters

13. MYTH:
DAB radios are expensive
FACT:
Today you can buy DAB radios from 200 - 300, - NOK
Across Europe digital radios cost less than €20 or €50 with a colour screen
Source: http://dabmytene.no/
Norway DAB mythbusters

14. MYTH:
DAB coverage at sea is poor
FACT:
NRK’s DAB network covers at least 50 km into the sea and many of the 47 main transmitter stations
are lined up along the coast.
Source: http://dabmytene.no/
Norway DAB mythbusters