en.Wedoany.com Reported - French digital infrastructure operator TDF announced that it has added 26 new DAB+ transmitters at 24 locations this summer to improve broadcast reception quality on highways, in rural areas, and small towns. The deployment covers multiple regions from the southwest to Auvergne, passing through Provence and the Centre-Val de Loire region, aiming to provide continuous and higher-quality listening experiences for the national multiplex networks M1 (including stations such as NRJ, Chérie, RTL, and Skyrock) and M2 (including BFM Radio, Europe 1, France Inter, RFM, and RMC).
DAB+ is a digital audio broadcasting standard that operates similarly to terrestrial digital television and can replace the increasingly saturated FM analog signal. This standard is free to use, requires no subscription or internet connection, can aggregate up to 13 programs on a single frequency, offers purer sound quality, and provides program-related information and visual content.
The new transmitters primarily target major traffic arteries, such as the A5, A75, A89, A84, A77, and A28 highways, to improve unstable signal reception for drivers on these routes. Additionally, surrounding small and medium-sized towns and rural areas, including Sisteron, Pertuis, and Digne-les-Bains in Provence; Angoulême and Chabanais in the Charente department; Clermont-l'Hérault, Saint-Gaudens, and Saint-Chély-d'Apcher in Occitanie; and Loubeyrat in Auvergne, will also benefit from better reception quality. Through this initiative, TDF is expanding its network coverage from major cities already converted to DAB+ to broader regions.
This deployment includes three new FM/DAB+ hybrid antennas designed by TDF's engineering team, which can transmit both technologies from the same antenna, simplifying the installation process. Depending on the site configuration, operations may require heavy equipment such as helicopters for lifting or cranes.
Pascale Varnière, Director of TDF's Audiovisual Business Unit, stated that this acceleration reflects the dedication of its field teams and emphasized the company's advantage of being rooted in the regions. As a reference operator for terrestrial television and radio broadcasting in France, TDF has long been committed to advancing DAB+ across its 9,200 sites.
Users only need a DAB+-compatible radio or car radio to enjoy the service, with such devices or packaging typically bearing the relevant logo. Since 2021, all new car radios sold in Europe have integrated this feature by default. Currently, DAB+ covers over 70% of the French population, with a target of reaching 80% coverage by the end of this year.
