DAB has a boost in France this week as the President of the French
Regulatory Authority (CSA) told delegates at a conference that
Digital Radio was inevitable.

Dominique Baudis, speaking in Paris said:

"Digital radio is an inevitable and desirable evolution of radio.
There is no reason to remain in analogue and no reason not to benefit
from digital technologies and their advantages to the listener."

Baudis was speaking at the opening of Le Radio!, a major event for
radio in France. The clear message coming from the conference this
year was that France is ready for digital radio. Earlier, during a
summit on January 27, Minister of Industry, Patrick Devedjian,
signalled government support when he said that digital radio was his
first priority.

The legislative framework for digital radio in France is now in place.
Baudis told the conference:

"The CSA will soon launch a consultation for digital radio and this
will be the starting point to find a way forward." The consultation
will determine how the radio industry wishes to move into the digital
age, and will be followed by a call to tender before the end of 2005.

Baudis noted that while Paris enjoys around 50 FM services, programme
content could still be extended in the Capital. In other parts of the
country listeners can access only 10 FM stations.

Philippe Levrier, CSA Counsellor, who is in charge of a planned
reorganisation project of the FM band in France concluded that such a
"re-farming" of FM licences is likely to free up, at best, 10% of
spectrum for new, innovative programming.

Public and commercial radio broadcasters, and trade unions, all
present at the conference, agreed with M Levrier that, given the lack
of analogue spectrum available for new content programming, digital
radio was the way forward.

Baudis concluded:

"Our objectives this year are to further the reach and diversity of
radio, which is already one of the most diverse radio landscapes in
Europe. But we can do even better for the benefit of the French
consumer, on a free-of-charge basis."

Annika Nyberg, President of the WorldDAB Forum said:

"It is very encouraging to see France clearly pushing for digital
radio. We especially commend the CSA's support and backing for the
provision of a secure legal framework for digital radio in France.
WorldDAB looks forward to welcoming France to the family of nearly 40
countries already developing DAB Digital Radio services."

On the WorldDAB stand at Le Radio!, delegates could experience several
examples of broadcast delivery using DAB Digital Radio. Multiplex
operator and solution provider VDL (Voix du Lyon), transmitted a
single multiplex to the conference on which there were four audio
services, one data service and one DMB (digital multimedia
broadcasting) service.

The DMB broadcast was also available for viewing via both a Samsung
mobile phone, and radio manufacturer Perstel's DMB solution. VDL
broadcast traffic, weather and news services via a Blaupunkt
Woodstock DAB 54 combined with a PDA. The industry marketing body for
digital radio in France, VRN (Vivement le Radio Numerique), was also
available on the stand to answer delegates' questions.