Government wants DAB
June 23rd, 2009 by Richard Aucock
DIGITAL Britain has recommended that all new cars are fitted with DAB radios by 2013.
The SMMT has welcomed this report from the Government working group – but feels the timing is ambitious.
There are 32 million cars on UK roads, and only a tiny percentage are fitted with DAB digital radios.
Convertor devices are available for that huge majority of conventional radios, but not in the timescale the Government reckons.
‘This is an ambitious and accelerated timetable for all involved, but we welcome the clarity it provides to motorists and industry alike,’ said Paul Everitt, SMMT chief executive.
‘There are already a number of digitally enabled products available for motorists as options, but the long-term challenge will be for the broadcasters to invest in content and coverage, to create demand for these products to be provided as standard.
Digital radios in cars was a particular focus of the Government document, given how vital motoring is to radio listenership.
A five-point action plan was thus set out, which Car Dealer Magazine has summarised here:
• Ensure cars sold with a radio are digitally enabled by the end of 2013
• Support a common logo for digital radios
• Encourage the development of portable digital converters.
• Help introduce more sophisticated traffic information via DAB
• Develop a common European approach to digital radio.
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