Norway Begins FM Switch-Off in 2017 Despite Hurdles in Other Countries

Norway's government announced that it will begin switching off FM radio broadcasting around the country in favor of Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB), a format which had difficulties in other countries due to high costs for independent broadcasters.

Norway's Ministry of Culture announced that it will turn off FM broadcasting in the country in 2017 as it transitions to digital radio broadcasting.

Norway will be the first country in the world to switch off FM radio broadcasting entirely in favor of transitioning entirely to the new DAB format.

"We can finally complete the work that has been on-going for many years. This is the best solution for all listeners throughout Norway, as they now have a better radio," Trygve Ronningen, the CEO of Swedish P4 Radio, told Radio.no.

In addition to Norway, Denmark and Sweden are considering switching off FM radio to transfer to DAB in 2022.

The spread of DAB format digital radio has previously faced struggles elsewhere due to problems with signal and sound quality, as well as the cost it places on small independent broadcasters.

The United Kingdom, which initially planned to begin the FM switch-off in 2015, decided against the idea last year due to problems among independent broadcasters in converting to the new format. In Canada, DAB broadcasting was turned off due to a lack of users and problems with transmission and sound quality.