Digital Audio Broadcasting-UK National

Digital One (ch 11D), the owner of the only national commercial service in the UK has assigned some 200 kbps over to data-casting IP streams to a test group of mobile phone users in the London Region.
The three IP streams are carrying video at 64 kbps and are received via a miniature DAB receiver within the smart phone that is running an operating system with a browser. This is in and around 20% of the capacity of the DAB multiplex being allocated to non-audio services. It is within OFCOM (the UK Regulator) guidelines so it is a legitimate use of the spectrum space. Ofcom has recently indicated that it is happy to have up to 30% of a multiplex allocated to non-radio services.

The BBC National(ch 12 B) multiplex has reverted back to an old configuration (Click here for info on the temporary matrix that was used in mid 2006) where Radio 3 is in stereo at 192 kbps; Radio 5X is only broadcast as needed; Radio 5 has an 80 kbps allocation; BBC Guide has 40 kbps as has BBC Travel. When Radio 5X is broadcast the capacity is provided by re-allocating bits from the above services. Radio 4’s two secondary services are accommodated by taking bits from Radio 4 and the data services.

The third national multiplex (second commercial multiplex) will use frequency block 11A and will be operated by Channel 4 Radio.