Digital radio is already a legal requirement. DAB+ (Digital Audio Broadcasting) is a digital broadcasting standard which allows you to have an audio quality comparable to that of CDs. But what will happen now for smartphones? Will the radio remain analogue FM or will it become DAB+, even on smart phones? An underground war between the IT industry (Asstel-Anitec-Assinform) and the radio and television industry (Confindustria Radio Tv) was fought with the Milleproroghe decree, armored on Wednesday with trust and approved Thursday in the Chamber. In the end, a truce prevailed until 21 December 2020.
According to the new European Communications Code, newly registered cars and home and portable radio receivers must be equipped with a dual reception system: analogue and digital DAB+ radio. And this is established.
The controversy, however, concerns smartphones. Since there is no obligation for smartphones to support DAB+ technology according to the European Electronic Communications Code, the immediate and mandatory implementation of this function (introduced with the Unlock construction sites) it would have exposed our country to an explicit conflict with the EU, according to Asstel; on the contrary, it would have been a timely innovation for Confindustria Radio TV.
The heated debate sees on the one hand radio broadcasters in favor of the obligation also for smartphones, given that they hope to increase the number of listeners, on the other hand there are the manufacturers of mobile devices which, instead, would bear the expense of the implementation. At the end of this confrontation it was approved by the Constitutional Affairs and Budget Commissions, the amendment to the Milleproroghe of Dem Alessia Rotta, last February 12th. According to this decree, mobile phone manufacturers will have until 21 December 2020 to adapt their devices to digital radio.
Even if the obligation will only come into force if Italy decides to go against the European directive which must be implemented by 21 December 2020. In this case, all manufacturers of smartphones with FM reception function will have to adapt to the new era, except for Apple, as there is no radio function on its devices. An exclusion that could also push other manufacturers to eliminate radio reception from their equipment, so as to avoid any nuisance.
The supply chain is in favor of the amendment Anitec-Assinform, the Italian Association of ICT companies of Confindustria, according to which regulatory clarity and harmonization of national regulations in full compliance with European standards is essential in order to operate in a single market system. The association considers the radio a non-mandatory accessory for a smartphone, given that not all devices have a radio.
It travels on the same wavelength the Aires, the consumer electronics supply chain association. The harmony between Italian and European legislation is important, according to which a possible conflict would primarily penalize consumers and then also the entire supply chain of technological products.
The opinion of Confindustria Radio TV is totally opposite, together with the whole group of associated radios, opposed to the first formulation of the amendment which intended to postpone the introduction of DAB+ on mobile terminals by one year. Since investments and numerous interventions had already been planned both for the digitization of the radio and for the correct orientation of users. Despite the various pushes and pulls, Confindustria Radio TV expressed itself in favor of the parliamentary decision, consistent with the development of the digitization of the sector, so as to allow the radio platform to develop and innovate.
But what advantages would DAB+ bring? You will enjoy one higher audio quality and radio signal stability, guaranteeing a large number of carrier frequencies so as to eliminate the annoying interference typical of mountainous areas and tunnels.
Furthermore, the digital transmission technique covers powers lower than FM, so it has a lower impact on electromagnetic pollution. In addition, it also allows the reception of images (the ones we already see on car monitors) and the possibility of being constantly updated on traffic and weather thanks to the Tpeg (Transport protocol experts group) service. Furthermore, no need to remember frequencies anymore, to search for channels you just need to know the name.
However, the many advantages are overshadowed by some defects. If on the one hand territorial coverage increases, on the other hand the renewal of all FM receivers in digital could take up to ten years to be implemented. Secondly, to cover the same area more systems would be needed, the cost of which is higher than analogue ones. Furthermore, the same rules apply as for digital TV: in the absence of a signal, nothing is received. War is only sent at the end of the year.
