16. Annex C: About WorldDAB

WorldDAB is the global industry forum for digital radio, facilitating the adoption and implementation of broadcast digital radio based on DAB / DAB+.

WorldDAB provides advice and support on all aspects of the switch from analogue to digital radio including regulation, licensing, technical trials, network build-out, marketing and production of new digital radio content.

WorldDAB is a not-for-profit association with legal personality governed by Swiss law and by its Statutes.

WorldDAB membership

WorldDAB has over 110 members from 33 countries representing companies and organisations from across the radio ecosystem, including broadcasters, network operators, car makers, device manufacturers and technology providers.

WorldDAB membership is open to companies and organisations considering the use of the DAB family of standards for the broadcast of digital radio. Companies considering WorldDAB membership must first agree to the WorldDAB Statutes before being considered for WorldDAB membership.

A reduced fee is available to companies with fewer than 10 employees, broadcasters, academic institutions and governmental bodies from lower-income countries. Please email the Project Office at projectoffice@worlddab.org to find out more.

How WorldDAB works

WorldDAB is a membership organisation which operates for the benefit of its members.

WorldDAB has several committees that are governed by its members. Working groups and task forces focus on specific areas related to the deployment of DAB. The operational day-today to running of WorldDAB is undertaken by the WorldDAB Project Office.

WorldDAB General Assembly

The WorldDAB General Assembly is an annual member meeting where members make decisions on the strategic direction of WorldDAB. The General Assembly provides an opportunity for members to share their experiences and insight on all aspects of digital radio rollout.

Steering Board

The Steering Board comprises elected representatives from WorldDAB member organisations who oversee the operational and financial management of the organisation, implementing strategic measures to ensure the successful rollout of DAB+.

Marketing Group

The Marketing Group helps broadcasters develop a DAB+ marketing strategy by sharing resources, case studies and best practice from countries and regions where broadcasters are already informing their listeners about DAB+.

Asia-Pacific Committee

The Asia-Pacific Committee addresses the unique needs and concerns of broadcasters in the APAC region, offering support and assistance in the successful rollout of DAB+. Working under the guidance of this committee is the Asia-Pacific Technical Group, which gives guidance on the technical aspects of implementing DAB+ digital radio, with help and advice that is tailored specifically to the needs of the region. The Group works in tandem with the WorldDAB Technical and Spectrum & Network Implementation Committees.

Finance Committee

The WorldDAB Finance Committee is responsible for developing, in conjunction with the President and Project Director, an annual budget for approval by the General Assembly. It proposes broad financial policy objectives to carry out the activities of the Forum. It ensures appropriate processes exist to monitor and oversee the management of all aspects of risk as well as oversee revenue generation and business processes.

Technical Committee

The Technical Committee oversees the DAB technical standards, ensuring that receiver equipment and broadcast technologies are compatible, upgrading and advancing the DAB Standards in line with other technical developments, and future proofing broadcast radio equipment for broadcasters and manufacturers.

Spectrum and Network Implementation Committee

The Spectrum and Network Implementation Committee provides guidance on DAB network implementation, including how to build a transmission site, multiplexing and sound processing, monitoring and signal distribution and data service implementation. The Committee also monitors and lobbies to ensure frequency availability for DAB+.

Automotive Working Group

The Automotive Working Group brings together the broadcast and automotive industries to collaborate on the optimum implementation of DAB+ digital radio in the car to benefit the driver. The Group’s work is focused on three specific areas: improving the user experience for in-car digital radio, ensuring optimal performance of all areas of the DAB radio in the car, including performance of the antenna within this experience. This group also works on the same goals for all aftermarket DAB devices, both line fit quality and standalone devices.

How DAB Family of standards are maintained

Based on the needs of the market, the Steering Board, Technical Committee and its Task Forces draw up a set of user requirements that outline the market parameters such as user functions, timescales and price range. Once consensus on the user requirements is reached, the Technical Committee and relevant Task Force develop the specifications.

This will include examining the technological implications of the user requirements and examination of the technologies available. Once the Technical Committee reaches consensus on the resulting specification, and the Steering Board’s support for it has been ensured, the specification is put forward to the Steering Board.

The Steering Board gives the final approval of the specification. It is then offered for standardisation to the relevant international standards body (i.e. ETSI or CENELEC) through the EBU/ETSI/CENELEC Joint Technical Committee or the International Telecommunication Union (ITU-R or ITU-T).