There have been several attempts to develop a digital platform for radio signals but only one system, called the Eureka 147 Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) system, is ready to roll with a proven signal. Eureka 147 was developed in Europe by a consortium of broadcasters and manufacturers. It is an accepted European Telecommunications Standard, and it is forecast that it will be the standard system throughout Europe, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Russia, China, India, South Africa, Mexico, Malaysia and Singapore.

The Eureka 147 system uses digital compression techniques to transform the source material, i.e. music, speech and radio programmes, into digital computer code before it is stored or transmitted. The computer code consists of electronic ones and zeros called binary digits (or bits, for short). Then the services are multiplexed, or grouped, together and the result is a robust signal with a number of key benefits, explained on the next station.

Digital radio around the world

The worldwide implementation of digital radio is rapidly progressing with many countries trialing or launching their systems.