Population:	63.0 million
Coverage:	20%
Services:	113 DAB, 33 Data

Last update: 18-01-2008

After the French government announced that the Eureka 147 family of standards, DMB Audio, was chosen for its digital radio standard, the French Minister for Culture and Communication signed the decrees that officially launched digital radio in France.  In March 2008 the “Conseil Supérieur de l’Audiovisuel” (CSA) determined the network parameters and called for tenders for DMB licences.  Licenses are yet to be awarded, but roll out is planned for Christmas 2008 with an initial objective of 50% population coverage. 

In France the trials (see below) licensed by the CSA cover around 20% of the population, mainly in the Paris area (five multiplexes) and Lyon (one multiplex). In addition to these audio services, there are also two Motorway Radio trials in certain areas.

In this country there are

• National multiplex: 1 Trial
• Regional multiplexes: 30 Trial

During the trials, several radios stations will be on air and it is expected that about 50 programmes will be on air in Paris. The future operational transmissions, and, therefore, the contents of the multiplex, will be defined once new licences have been awarded in 2008.

In the first half of 2007, the CSA, the French regulatory body, created a working group on digital radio and has now authorised eight trials to take place in France for a duration of six months; six in T-DMB, one in DMB and DAB+, and one in DRM.

Following the decree project by the French Ministry of Industry, the Digital Radio Association launched one trial to compare DAB+ and DMB. This trial took place in Nantes at the end of July 2007. Six other trials have also been authorised. These trials will demonstrate the capacity of both standards for radio services and applications for associated data services.

A 12-month trial of DMB, broadcasting TV and radio took place in Paris in 2005 and 2006.

DAB licences will be issued with a duration of 10 to 15 years. Broadcasters going digital will get a five year extension of their analogue licences. Simulcasting, associated data and audiovisual communication services will be permitted. Analogue and digital licences are both issued free of charge. There is a quota for French music and new artists and the current analogue rules which govern advertising and sponsorship will apply to digital radio.