Italy: Aeranti-Corallo’s DAB+ Network Grows

Aeranti-Corallo is an association system formed by a partnership between two associations, Aeranti and Corallo, in Italy. The organization currently represents 631 companies — mainly local radio and TV broadcasters, but also satellite and internet radio/TV companies.

The association has announced three new consortium companies set up by local radio stations to broadcast in DAB+ — Radio Digitale Emilia Romagna, Radio Digitale Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia DAB.

The new consortiums are all made up of local radio broadcasters belonging to the Aeranti-Corallo association. They are licensed for analog radio broadcasting and authorized as content providers for digital terrestrial radio broadcasting in their local areas.

In addition, the existing consortium for the Veneto region, Veneto DAB, recently added four new radio stations to its network and received a capital increase.

“The establishment of more consortiums that work as network operators for digital terrestrial radio confirms the increasing momentum of these companies in the digital arena,” said Marco Rossignoli, coordinator of Aeranti-Corallo and president of Aeranti.

“While waiting for the new frequency planning to be issued in the coming months by Agcom, following the completion of the television transition to second generation digital terrestrial broadcasts, it’s now absolutely important that the Ministry of Economic Development allows the activation of experimental DAB+ installations, on a non-interference basis, in all regions where local broadcasters have started consortium companies for the activity of network operators,” Rossignoli commented.