DAB in Ireland - where are we?

StreetLight

What's the current state of play on the roll-out of DAB? Are 2RN actively progressing on upgrading transmitters?

The only latest information I can find is at:
http://www.digitalradioltd.com/rte-expand-dab/
and:
http://www.dbdb.ie/trial-broadcasts/
which hasn't been updated since Q2 2013.

Is everything just waiting on Ministerial approval?

Trick of the Tail

Here is the current scenario:

RTE have DAB on air in Dublin,Cork and Limerick, carrying their own services.

The country's first independently-operated DAB transmissions continue on air in the south-east using two transmitters as a single-frequency network. This is operated by Total Broadcast Consultants under a trial licence issued by ComReg, and is now in its 4th year.

(This mux is also the country's first DAB+ transmission).

In Dublin, Digital Broadcasting Ltd are operating a similar DAB trial, now into their 2nd year.

The decision whether to roll out DAB commercially (i.e. Not under trial licences) is within the BAI's purview. And they appear to be sitting on their hands right now, possibly because of pressure from their existing FM franchisees who don't want to see any further competition at the moment.

There is a technical group made up of members of RTE, Total Briadcast and DB who are formulating technical policies for a future roll-out.

It is important to note that the general consensus among those involved in DAB here is that is should not be looked upon as a replacement for FM, but as an additional band for smaller, possibly niche or specialist stations.