Analogue broadcasting sailing into the sunset

June 17, 2009 by Arvadmin

The days of traditional AM broadcasting and its cousin medium FM analogue in Britain are targeted to have a maximum life of eight years as the superior digital broadcasting progressively replaces it.

The United Kingdom Government’s ‘Digital Britain’ report includes for the first time a switch-off at the end of 2015 at the latest when the digital upgrade of broadcasting is complete.

The switchover will be announced two years in advance, through broadcasting licence conditions that set a licence expiry date.

While the freed up FM band spectrum will be occupied by new ultra-local radio commercial and community stations, while those on the medium wave band are to be required to go digital.

To stimulate this development the UK Government report has recommended that all new car radios by digital by the end of 2013.

The ‘Digital Britain’ report is a visionary document covering not only broadcasting but also broadband access, touching on a project that promises to deliver Next Generation Broadband Networks by 2017 to 90% broadband of the UK.