Dab

DAB, short for Digital Audio Broadcasting, is a family of digital radio standards designed to replace or supplement traditional analogue FM and AM broadcasts. It transmits audio and associated data in digital form using a multiplex, or ensemble, that can carry several audio services as well as text, images, and other data. Because the signal is encoded and spread using error correction and a robust modulation scheme, DAB can deliver listening with reduced interference and more reliable reception, including in urban multipath environments.

Original DAB used MPEG-1 Layer II for audio coding, while DAB+ employs the more efficient AAC-based codec (HE-AAC v2). This makes it possible to provide higher quality sound at lower bitrates, or more services in the same bandwidth.

DAB is primarily broadcast terrestrially, especially in Band III in many European and other regions, with some deployments in other bands. Transmitters can form single-frequency networks, enabling broad coverage with relatively fewer transmitters. Receivers range from car radios to portable and fixed radios, and many modern devices support both DAB and DAB+.

Adoption and deployment vary by country. DAB has been a major digital radio standard in Europe and parts of Asia and Australia, while some regions continue to operate and expand FM services or adopt alternative digital radio standards. The transition to DAB/DAB+ continues as broadcasters seek to improve spectrum efficiency and enable value-added data services for listeners.