Norway announced it will be the first country to shut off FM radio

Norway’s ministry of culture declared last week that FM radio will soon be no more in the country. Starting in 2017, all existing FM stations, which transmit an analog signal, will be shut off for good, to be replaced by digital radio. The news was first reported by Radio.no.

While other countries are pushing digital audio broadcasting (DAB) in lieu of FM radio, Norway is the first country to get rid of the technology entirely. DAB is already growing in popularity around the world—and in Europe especially—so it’s likely only a matter of time before more countries start following suit.

“Radio digitisation will open the door to a far greater range of radio channels, benefiting listeners across the country,” the Ministry said in a statement. “Listeners will have access to more diverse and pluralistic radio content, and enjoy better sound quality and new functionality.”


Beyond broadcasting a superior quality of sound, digital radio is also cheaper to transmit than FM, which no doubt factored into Norway’s decision to switch permanently. According to its culture ministry, the costs of transmitting DAB radio are eight times less than the costs of FM. That means its national radio channels could save 200 million krone ($25 million) a year.
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http://qz.com/387046/norway-announced-it-will-be-the-first-country-to-shut-off-fm-radio