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Artificial intelligence and synthetic media formed the backdrop to discussions about radio’s future at the ABU Digital Broadcasting Symposium 2026 in Kuala Lumpur. Reporting on the event, Les Sabel, chair of the WorldDAB APAC Technical Group, says the symposium theme — “The Rising Synthetic Era” — reflects a period of rapid change in how audio content is produced, discovered and distributed.
“Artificial intelligence is reshaping how content is created, discovered and distributed,” Sabel says. “Across Asia-Pacific, broadcasters are navigating a more complex landscape with fragmented audiences, new listening environments and rising expectations around accessibility and personalization.” At the same time, he says broadcasters continue to face a core challenge — how to ensure trusted, widely accessible media continues to reach audiences at scale.
Much of the discussion at the conference focused on the evolving role of DAB+. During the conference, Lindsay Cornell of the BBC outlined the technology’s continued development and global expansion. Cornell highlighted the extensive coverage now achieved across Europe and the growing adoption of DAB+ in Asia-Pacific and Africa. He said recent enhancements, including improvements to text handling, localization and service following, extend listener choice while helping broadcasters maintain local relevance.
Sabel says these developments show how DAB+ continues to evolve beyond its original role as a digital replacement for analog radio. “DAB+ is no longer simply a digital alternative to analog radio,” he says. “It is increasingly positioned as the backbone of broadcast radio, combining scale, efficiency and flexibility in a way that allows markets to adapt to their own needs.”
Sabel also highlighted radio’s role during emergencies, noting that broadcast infrastructure continues to provide resilience in crisis situations. He pointed to systems such as Automatic Safety Alert, which allow targeted emergency alerts to reach listeners even when mobile or telecommunications networks fail. “In times of crisis, radio remains one of the most reliable forms of communication,” Sabel says. He adds that redundancy across transmission, multiplexing and distribution forms a core part of DAB+ network design and helps ensure services remain available during critical situations.
DAB+ is no longer simply a digital alternative to analog radio — it is increasingly positioned as the backbone of broadcast radio, combining scale, efficiency and flexibility in a way that allows markets to adapt to their own needs
Les Sabel, chair of the WorldDAB APAC Technical Group
Regulatory frameworks influence digital radio deployment
Policy discussions also formed part of the symposium. Bernie O’Neill of WorldDAB discussed how regulatory frameworks influence digital radio deployment in different markets. Sabel says digital radio transitions depend on policy choices that create stable investment conditions and encourage coordination between broadcasters, regulators and technology providers. To support governments and regulators, WorldDAB plans to launch a DAB+ Public Policy Toolbox to guide the development of national digital radio strategies.
The organization will launch the resource on May 19 and present it at the WorldDAB Automotive 2026 on June 11. Sabel says the initiative aims to help policymakers design effective frameworks for digital radio development.
Hybrid radio and metadata were also part of the conference conversation. Nick Piggott of RadioDNS discussed how connected environments, particularly vehicles, increasingly rely on metadata to help audiences discover radio services. “Radio is strongest when broadcast and IP work together,” Sabel says. He explains that hybrid radio combines the scale and reliability of broadcast delivery with richer services delivered over IP.
Alongside the conference presentations, WorldDAB also held a technical workshop focused on implementation. O’Neill opened the session by highlighting what Sabel describes as a common gap between strategic planning and real-world rollout. Sabel says successful digital radio deployment depends on detailed planning, coordination between stakeholders and practical engineering expertise. WorldDAB’s technical groups and the Spectrum and Network Implementation Committee support this process by sharing deployment experience and technical guidance.
Digital radio success depends on policy, technical expertise and collaboration across the broadcasting ecosystem
Improving efficiency and building a long-term platform
Several Asia-Pacific markets shared their experiences during the workshop. Thailand outlined progress through technical trials, regulatory development and industry consultation, while Indonesia described a move from pilot projects toward national implementation supported by a formal Digital Sound Broadcasting framework. Although each market follows its own path, Sabel says participants highlighted similar goals across the region. These include expanding capacity, improving efficiency and building a long-term platform capable of supporting radio services into the future.
Technical discussions also explored network design and operational resilience. Panelists discussed energy efficiency, system complexity and the importance of maintaining consistent audio quality across transmission chains. “The strongest message, however, was around resilience,” Sabel says. “Increasingly, resilience must be designed into the system from the outset — across transmission, multiplexing and distribution.” He adds that redundancy, diverse signal paths and automated failover now form essential parts of broadcast network design.
“Across both the conference and the workshop, a consistent message emerged,” Sabel says. “The future of radio depends not only on innovation, but on how effectively it is implemented.” He adds that digital radio success depends on policy, technical expertise and collaboration across the broadcasting ecosystem. Sabel concludes that while digital radio strategies differ between markets, broadcasters increasingly share a common direction. “There is no one-size-fits-all model,” he says. “Yet the direction is clear.”
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