Digital Radio in the Republic of Ireland

Digital radio services are broadcast from sites such as Three Rock Mountain (pictured)

Digital Radio in the Republic of Ireland is broadcast on a number of digital terrestrial, cable and internet platforms. Until 31 March 2021, official broadcasts of the full complement of radio services of Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ) using the digital audio broadcasting standard were also available in the state.[1] From April 2021 until the summer of 2024, unlicensed, low-powered DAB multiplexes operated in a small number of locations.

## Digital Terrestrial Television

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All of RTÉ's digital radio services, and the private radio service Radio Maria Ireland, are available on Saorview.

Generic DVB receivers generally need mains power, but are typically cheaper than DAB radios. Many portable DAB radio sets have 1⁄10th to 1⁄50th of the running time of an AM/FM set, typically giving only 6 hours use. There are also in-dash DVB Terrestrial receivers for cars, though it is illegal for the driver to watch the TV channels.

## Digital Satellite

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A number of public and private radio services from Ireland are available nationwide on both Saorsat and Sky where 99% of geographic coverage is possible.

## Internet Radio

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A number of public and private radio services are available across the state from broadband internet and mobile phone networks receivable on smartphones, Internet radio devices and smart speakers.

## Digital Audio Broadcasting

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Digital Audio Broadcasting in Ireland is due to be trialled for 12 months beginning Spring 2025 by Fáilte DAB.[2]

Both Wireless Ireland and Bauer Media Audio Ireland have announced plans to operate services on the platform.[3]

Currently six transmission sites are being utilised using frequency blocks 5B, 7D and 10D

### Services on Fáilte DAB

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* Eirewave
* Classic Hits 80s
* Q102
* Freedom
* LaserHits
* Newstalk
* Nova Xtra
* Onic Alternative
* Onic Country
* Onic Gold
* Onic Hits
* Onic Kids
* Onic Movies
* Onic Rock
* Onic R&B
* Onic 80s
* Rí-Rá
* Rewind
* SPIN
* Spirit
* Sunshine Soul Radio
* Today FM
* UCB Ireland
* 8Radio.

Prior to this, a number of national multiplexes in the republic have ceased transmissions. A small number of unlicensed low-powered, small-scale DAB multiplexes did run in the state after the cessation of the RTÉ DAB multiplex, but they all ceased during the summer of 2024. Areas near the border of Northern Ireland can receive overspill reception of UK national, Northern Ireland local and small scale multiplexes.

## Former National Multiplexes

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### DAB Ireland Mux1 (RTÉ - 2006 to 2021)

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The first national public service multiplex operated on Block 12C (227.360 MHz) by RTÉ from just five transmitters: Three Rock, Co. Dublin; Kippure, Co. Wicklow; Clermont Carn, Co. Louth; Spur Hill, Cork; and Woodcock Hill, Limerick. Hence the service was only available in parts of Ireland. Its line-up has varied considerably since its launch on 1 January 2006. All stations were provided by RTÉ. It carried the following stations:[4]

* RTÉ Radio 1, 128 kbit/s Stereo
* RTÉ Radio 1 Extra, 64 kbit/s Mono (part-time service, used bandwidth from Chill)
* RTÉ 2fm, 128 kbit/s Stereo
* RTÉ lyric fm, 160 kbit/s Stereo
* RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, 112 kbit/s Stereo
* RTÉ Gold, 128 kbit/s Stereo
* RTÉ 2XM, 128 kbit/s Stereo
* RTÉ Junior, 128 kbit/s Stereo (07:00-21:00, timeshared a slot with RTÉ Chill). Drops to 96 kbit/s Mono when required
* RTÉ Chill, 128 kbit/s Stereo (21:00-07:00, timeshared a slot with RTÉ Junior). Drops to 96 kbit/s Mono when required
* RTÉ Pulse, 128 kbit/s Stereo.

It was proposed to close the RTÉ DAB service as well as the Digital only RTÉ radio channels as part of the November 2019 cost saving plan. This proposed closure was set to take place in April 2020 but was delayed pending review through the outcome of a commissioned report.

In March 2021, RTÉ announced that it is to cease transmission of its radio services on the Digital Audio Broadcast (DAB) network on 31 March 2021.[1] A report commissioned by the broadcaster found that just 0.5% of adults in Ireland listen to radio via DAB while 77% of adults in Ireland listen on FM.[1]

### DAB Ireland Mux2

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2007–08

No longer operating since November 2008, this multiplex launched in mid-March 2007 and operated from Three Rock Mountain and Clermont Carn on Block 12A (223.936 MHz). It carried ten services: four stations supplied by Communicorp, two by Digital Audio Productions, two by UTV Radio, and two privately held. As of July 2008, it consisted of:[4]

* All 80s, 128 kbit/s Stereo
* Dublin's 98FM, 128 kbit/s Stereo
* FM104, 128 kbit/s Stereo
* Mocha, 128 kbit/s Stereo
* Newstalk, 64 kbit/s Mono
* Phantom FM, 128 kbit/s Stereo
* Q102, 128 kbit/s Stereo
* Radio Kerry, 96 kbit/s Mono
* Today FM, 128 kbit/s Stereo
* SPIN 1038, 128 kbit/s Stereo
* Raidió Rí-Rá

Radio stations licensed by the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland ceased broadcasting on Ireland's second digital radio multiplex (Mux 2) on Sunday, 30 November 2008. The stations were broadcasting on Mux 2 as part of a digital radio trial. RTÉ continues to broadcast on the RTÉ multiplex. ComReg and the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland are currently[when?] exploring regulatory frameworks for digital radio multiplex licensing and broadcast licences.[5]

### DB Digital Broadcasting (2012 to 2017)

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DB Digital Broadcasting launched a national multiplex in some areas of Ireland in July 2012.[4][6] Plans to expand to Limerick were dropped in 2014.[6] The multiplex closed on 30 June 2017 due to a lack of enthusiasm for DAB from the commercial sector and after its licence from ComReg expired.[7] The operator was[when?] attempting to relaunch a national service after the announcement of the closure of the first national multiplex.[8]

### Trial Multiplexes

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DAB was launched to the public on 30 November 2006, with a number of trials taking place in 1998, 2001 and 2006. Before April 2021, 52%[9] of Ireland's population — mainly in Counties Cork and Limerick and the North East – could receive permanent DAB services. Geographic coverage on a portable or car radio was much less.[10] The service began to be marketed in May 2007 by a collective of commercial broadcasters, digitalradio.ie; and receivers to this day are still sold by most major electronics retailers.

Since 2010, a number of privately run trial broadcasts have been made.

#### Trial multiplex

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##### FáilteDAB (Spring 2025 - Spring 2026)

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Fáilte DAB were granted a licence by ComReg to commence a one year DAB+ trial starting in Spring 2025 for a multiplex that will cover six transmitter sites across the eastern part of the republic with the view to expand nationally during the trial period.[11]

#### Former trial multiplexes

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##### South-East (TOTAL-DAB) DAB trials (2010 to 2012)

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DAB and DAB+ trials were begun in April 2010 in the South-East area of Ireland on channel 9B (204.64 MHz) by Total Broadcast Consultants Ltd, a broadcast engineering company. The company initially obtained a 1-year test and trial licence from ComReg to perform tests from sites, initially just in Waterford City. But from mid May, the trial multiplex was expanded to cover much of the South East of Ireland via a high site in the Blackstairs Mountains, providing coverage in Co. Wexford, Co. Carlow, Co. Kilkenny and East Co. Waterford. In March 2011, a 1-year extension was granted. This was the first DAB multiplex in Ireland to be operated by an independent/private organisation (RTÉ NL operating previous multiplexes), and the first known broadcasts of DAB+ content in Ireland. In addition to all local and regional radio stations, it was carrying several stations previously unavailable in the region. Past trial participants have included Christmas FM, Zenith Classic Rock & Raidió Rí-Rá.

* 4fm, 160 kbit/s Stereo
* Beat 102 103, 192 kbit/s Stereo
* Sunshine, 128 kbit/s Stereo
* KCLR 96FM, 48 kbit/s DAB+ Stereo
* Phantom FM, 128 kbit/s Stereo
* Radio Nova, 192 kbit/s Stereo
* RTÉ 2XM, 72 kbit/s DAB+ Stereo
* South East Radio, 88 kbit/s DAB+ Stereo
* talkSPORT, 56 kbit/s Mono
* Tipp FM, 56 kbit/s DAB+ Stereo
* UCB Ireland, 32 kbit/s AAC+
* WLR FM, 64 kbit/s AAC+ Stereo

##### Dublin 2018 trial

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A test service in Dublin served parts of the city on Channels 5A and 5B carrying both RTÉ and Independent local radio services from both Dublin and Cork.

##### Cork City 2018/19 DAB Trial (éirdab)

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A small scale DAB trial launched in August 2018 in Cork City, Ireland on channel 11A (216.928 MHz). It was operated by Viamux Ltd (éirdab), a DAB/DAB+ digital radio solutions company. éirdab has a 1-year test and trial licence from Comreg to perform tests from a site in Cork City. éirdab has invited all local and regional radio stations to join the multiplex. It also carried stations previously unavailable to listeners in the area. Stations include:

* Radio Maria, 128 kbit/s Stereo
* United Christian Broadcasters, 128 kbit/s Stereo
* Juice Cork, 192 kbit/s Stereo

### Former unlicensed DAB multiplexes

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A small number of unlicensed independent DAB multiplexes were available in a few locations until the summer of 2024.[4]

#### Ireland FreeDAB Network (FreeDAB)

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The FreeDAB network carried a number of low-powered multiplexes in Cork, Dublin, the north and north east of Ireland and Sligo. The broadcaster was raided by the Garda in 2020[12] and resumed broadcasting in Cork, Dublin, Sligo, Waterford, Dundalk, Limerick. These transmissions have ceased.

## See also

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* Radio in the Republic of Ireland

## References

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1. ^ a b c Crowley, Sinéad (2 March 2021). "RTÉ to cease radio transmission on DAB network". RTÉ. Retrieved 21 February 2025.
2. ^ World DAB (19 February 2025). "New Irish digital radio stations set to be launched in coming weeks | World DAB". Retrieved 4 March 2025.
3. ^ AdWorld (21 February 2025). "Broadcasters Look to DAB's Second Coming With New Trials | AdWorld.ie". Retrieved 21 February 2025.
4. ^ a b c d DAB Ensembles Worldwide | Ireland
5. ^ "Notice on www.digitalradio.ie". Retrieved 8 March 2009.
6. ^ a b "National DAB 2 multiplex returns after error". RadioToday. 25 April 2017. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
7. ^ "DAB radio multiplex to close as FM prospers". RadioToday. 26 June 2017. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
8. ^ "dB Digital Broadcasting – National DAB+ Mux Provider Ireland". Retrieved 2 April 2021.
9. ^ "Ireland | Countries | WorldDAB". www.worlddab.org. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
10. ^ "RTÉ trials DAB digital radio in Cork and Limerick cities". Radio Netherlands MediaNetwork. 19 March 2008. Archived from the original on 23 April 2008. Retrieved 11 April 2008.
11. ^ "Plans underway to bring back high powered DAB+ multiplexes to Ireland". RadioToday. 17 February 2025. Retrieved 21 February 2025.
12. ^ "FreeDAB Dublin radio multiplex off-air after raid". RadioToday. 25 February 2020. Retrieved 2 April 2021.

## External links

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### Digital Terrestrial Television Platform

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* Saorview

### DAB Multiplex Operators

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* dB Digital Broadcasting
* FáilteDAB
* FreeDAB

### Other sites

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* DAB Ensembles Worldwide - technical information about DAB transmissions in Ireland