Digital radio switchover planned for the UK

Medium wave frequencies to close

24 June 2008 14:11 GMT / By Amy-Mae Elliott

A government working group has put forward proposals to move all UK radio stations to digital bands and close medium wave frequencies, similar to how the analogue television signal is being switched over to digital.

The Digital Radio Working Group has said no date should be set yet for the switch, but thinks the transfer could be completed by the year 2020, as long as the British public are given at least two year's notice before the change begins.

In the interim report, the Digital Radio Working Group said all national, regional and large local stations should switch to DAB in the medium term, while small local and community stations would continue to broadcast on FM.

This will be a controversial topic - the adoption of DAB in the UK, although recently said to have hit the seven million sets mark - has not been fast, with coverage across parts of the UK lacking, which would need to be seriously addressed for the plans to go ahead.