Proving to be a leader in a new area, Norway is set to be the first worldwide to make the switch from FM radio to digital. FM radio was invented in America in 1933. After an initial slow start, FM radio became extremely popular globally, primarily because its frequency modulation advanced technology utilized produced a premium sound quality which was better than the pre-existing AM transmissions.
The days of FM radio currently may be some of their last. After 60-plus years of utilizing the system, the country of Norway has decided to turn off the FM radio available within their borders, with many other countries contemplating joining them in the switch.
According to many reports, the shutdown is set to start as early as next week, and Bodoe, a small town in the north of the country, will turn off its network on Wednesday. It is expected that all FM transmissions in the country will be done by the time 2017 draws to a close, and will be replaced by DAB transmissions that provide premium sound quality.
As Norway leads the charge worldwide towards digital, there are several countries that have also hinted that they too are considering shutting down their FM transmissions in the near future. Switzerland is another country that is slated to go digital, setting a 2020 timetable to move from FM transmissions to AM. According to the leader of a new project run by Ole Torvmark, there are several countries are closely following Norway to find out the best way to make the transition go as smoothly as possible. The project, Digital Radio Norway, has stated they have been watched closely by several countries across the world since making the announcement to move towards digital in 2015.
Why has Norway decided to make the switch completely to digital? The decision to close the FM system was decided by the Norwegian parliament in early 2011. The parliament stated that the cost of having FM and DAB networks was not in the best interests of a small country with just 5 million inhabitants. Furthermore, Norway has mountainous ranges that have left many areas lacking radio coverage.
The Norwegian government estimated that FM costs were more than eight times those of digital, which led the government to save money and spend it on better content. The move will open doors for greater ranges for radio channels, which will be a benefit to listeners across the country. Once the switch is complete, listeners will have the ability to access content that is more pluralistic and diverse. This will also allow for premium quality sound and better functionality.
But, even with these advancements, there are many Norwegians unhappy about the impending change. Based on opinion polls conducted over the past summer by the newspaper Dagbladet, 66% of those that answered the poll stated they were opposed to the shift to DAB, with only 17% supporting it.
But, at the end of the day, the switch is all about economics. Digital Radio Norway states that 7.9 million sets are likely to be affected by the transmission and just 20% of cars on Norwegian roads possess DAB systems. The price range for the switch? 1500 Norwegian crowns.