DAB+ digital radio 2026: what state terrestrial radio operators must do

Key data

State digital radio operators have a new technical obligation as of November 5, 2026: to adapt their broadcasts to the DAB+ standard according to ETSI technical specifications. The Royal Decree 958/2026 does not eliminate current DAB or modify the frequency planning in force since 1999, but it does require the technological leap in the audio coding layer.

The regulation also responds to a European obligation: new vehicles must incorporate DAB+ receivers by community mandate, making it essential that the supply of content in Spain be compatible with that standard.

What does this regulation establish?

Royal Decree 958/2026 introduces a specific technical change in the audio coding layer of state terrestrial DAB broadcasts. Below is the comparison between the previous and new standards:

The change is exclusively logical: it affects the software and configuration of coding equipment, not antennas, towers or physical infrastructure. The frequency planning approved in 1999 remains intact.

A notable feature of the new standard is automatic safety alerts (ASA), which allow emergency notices to be broadcast automatically through compatible receivers, something that classic DAB did not provide.

Economic and operational impact

Royal Decree 958/2026 does not set economic amounts or fees. The impact translates into operational costs for technical adaptation, the magnitude of which depends on each operator:

• Audio encoder update: Equipment that generates the DAB signal must be reconfigured or updated to broadcast in MPEG 4 HE-AACv2. In many cases, this is resolved with a firmware or software update, without the need to replace hardware.
• No investment in transmission infrastructure: The regulation explicitly confirms that no changes to the physical transmission network are required, which significantly limits the cost of adaptation.
• Competitive opportunity: The greater spectral efficiency of DAB+ allows operators to offer more channels or better audio quality within the same bandwidth, opening up possibilities to expand the offering without additional spectrum cost.
• Alignment with the vehicle market: The European obligation to include DAB+ receivers in new vehicles makes adaptation a commercial necessity, not just a regulatory one. Operators who do not migrate will lose audience in the automotive channel.
• Autonomous and local scope: Excluded from the obligation. Each autonomous community will decide independently whether to adopt DAB+, which may create temporary fragmentation of the ecosystem.

Who does it affect?

• State-level terrestrial digital radio operators: Required to adapt their broadcasts to ETSI technical specifications for DAB+. This is the group directly affected by the regulation.
• DAB+ receiver manufacturers: Must ensure the compatibility of their devices with the new standard, especially those intended for the automotive market, where there is a European obligation to include DAB+ receivers.
• Autonomous communities: Excluded from the state obligation, but must make a strategic decision on whether to adopt DAB+ in their own terrestrial digital sound broadcasting networks.
• Local radio operators: Excluded from the scope of this Royal Decree.

Practical example

A music radio operator with state coverage currently broadcasting in DAB with MPEG Layer II coding must review its production and broadcast chain. If its audio encoders support software update to MPEG 4 HE-AACv2, the process is limited to a technical intervention on existing equipment, without touching antennas or network infrastructure.

Thanks to the greater spectral efficiency of DAB+, that same operator could take advantage of the freed bandwidth to launch a second thematic channel within the same multiplex, expanding its offering without additional spectrum cost. Additionally, by activating automatic safety alerts (ASA), the operator can collaborate with authorities in the dissemination of emergency notices, which adds public value to its license.

If that same operator does not adapt, its broadcasts will be incompatible with DAB+ receivers installed in new vehicles marketed in Europe, which means a direct loss of audience in one of the highest radio consumption segments.

What should companies do now?

1. Audit current audio coding equipment: Verify whether existing DAB encoders support update to MPEG 4 HE-AACv2 via firmware or software, or if they require hardware replacement.
2. Consult applicable ETSI technical specifications: The regulation explicitly refers to ETSI standards for DAB+. Technical managers must review those specifications to ensure compliance of the broadcast signal.
3. Plan the technical transition: Define an update schedule that minimizes broadcast interruptions. Since no changes to physical infrastructure are required, the intervention window can be brief.
4. Evaluate the opportunity to expand the channel offering: The greater spectral efficiency of DAB+ allows you to assess whether new channels can be launched within the same multiplex without additional spectrum cost.
5. If you are an autonomous community or local operator: Although you are not obligated by this Royal Decree, analyze the strategic convenience of adopting DAB+ to avoid being left out of the receiver ecosystem in new vehicles.
6. Verify compatibility with automatic safety alerts (ASA): Check whether the technical update includes enabling this functionality and coordinate with the competent authorities if applicable.

Official source

Consult complete regulation at official source

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-23177