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Spain’s Ministry of Digital Transformation has launched a public consultation as a first step toward drafting a decree aimed at boosting terrestrial digital radio broadcasting. The proposed decree, currently in development, would rely on DAB+ technology to revitalise a sector that has seen limited uptake in the country, despite commitments dating back more than two decades.
The consultation is being held under Article 133.1 of Spain’s Law 39/2015 on public administration procedures. Its goal is to gather input from stakeholders on the relevance, challenges and objectives of the future legislation. Authorities say the decree would address the limited penetration of DAB+ in Spain, significantly lower than in many other European countries.
Spain’s current regulatory framework for digital radio dates back to Royal Decree 1287/1999, which established a national technical plan for introducing DAB+. The plan has been modified several times, but none of the changes led to widespread adoption. As of 2025, DAB+ remains a marginal option compared to FM and internet-based broadcasting.
Technical benefits and regulatory leverage
The draft decree highlights the benefits of DAB+, including more efficient spectrum utilization, enhanced resistance to interference, multichannel audio broadcasting and support for features such as automatic safety alerts (ASA). In addition, the European Electronic Communications Code — transposed into Spanish law in 2022 — requires that all new category M vehicles sold or leased in the EU be equipped with a receiver capable of receiving terrestrial digital radio signals. This regulation provides a legal basis for Spain to proceed with the deployment of DAB+.
The State Secretariat for Telecommunications and Digital Infrastructure is preparing the regulatory process and is currently seeking feedback from institutional, industry and civil society stakeholders. Contributions are open until July 28, 2025.
The final version of the decree could outline a national DAB+ expansion strategy, with potential coverage targets, licensing criteria and support for equipment upgrades or broadcaster transitions. At this stage, all options remain on the table, including non-regulatory measures.
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