In the debate on future digitization of the VHF FM broadcasting service, two competitive systems are being discussed at the moment, namely DRM+ and HD-Radio™. Both systems, however, may not be used in Germany because there has not yet been evidence about appropriate technical parameters to operate these systems with existing radio services in an interference-free manner.
Now the German State Media Authority of Rhineland-Palatinate(Landeszentrale für Medien und Kommunikation - LMK) and the University of Applied Sciences of Kaiserslautern have published their final report on the results obtained from exhaustive laboratory measurements about the interference potential of DRM+ and HD-Radio™ into existing radio services. As a result, green light has been given for field trials with these systems in Germany.
On the basis of the technical data of the final report, the German Federal Network Agency has granted licences for upcoming filed trials which will be run during the following periods:
DRM+ field trial in Hannover from Nov. 20, 2007 to Feb. 29, 2008
HD-Radio™ field trial in Heidelberg from Dec. 1, 2007 to Feb. 29, 2008
DRM+ field trial in Kaiserslautern from March 1, 2008 to May 31, 2008, following the HD radio trial.
(Source: LifePR/R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)