U.DAB’s 2015 application for an ofcom small-scale DAB multiplex licence in London was successful. Trial London has broadcast continuously 24-7 since October 2015, including in January 2018 the addition of a third transmitter in Notting Hill to complement our original two, increasing the strength and reliability of reception in heavily built-up Central London. The reliability and quality of our transmissions speaks for itself with uptime over the entire nine-year period in excess of 99.8%. We are the only licensee to have invested in an additional transmission site to improve the robustness of our DAB coverage during the SSDAB Trial.
U.DAB currently carries twenty-six London broadcasters to make their stations available on DAB Digital Radio (see ‘Broadcasters‘ page for details).
The eventual closing of Trial London is now foreseeable. On 30th March 2023, ofcom advertised full-time small-scale DAB licences for five areas of Greater London in a competitve tender process. On 22nd July 2024, ofcom announced the award of the new small-scale DAB licence for North London to U.DAB. This is scheduled to begin broadcasting in the second half of 2025 (see ‘Full-time Future‘ page). The Trial licence will expire very shortly after the new licence for North London switches on.
Further information on ‘Small Scale DAB’ is available from the ofcom website here.
It is unlikely that there will be further spare capacity on the Trial London DAB multiplex. However if your station is interested, and especially if based in North London, please feel free to contact us. (see ‘Contact‘ page).
