WorldDAB launches ASA product certification scheme

Bernie O’Neill, WorldDAB project director

WorldDAB has launched a global certification scheme for DAB+ Automatic Safety Alerts, appointing DTG Testing as its authorized partner for testing and approval. Products that pass the new scheme will carry the ASA logo, confirming compliance with the ETSI TS 104 090 standard.

The certification, designed for domestic and in-vehicle receivers, includes rigorous testing of ASA features such as geo-targeted alerts, signal switching between ensembles and a wake-up function that activates radios even in standby mode. ASA-certified products are expected to reach consumers later this year.

Bernie O’Neill, WorldDAB project director, said, “ASA will help broadcasters and regulators to position broadcast as an asset in emergency situations given it is a robust and hack-resistant technology, as well as meeting the objectives of cultural diversity. This helps justify the required investment in the technology as there’s a clear benefit.”

Lindsay Cornell, chair of WorldDAB’s technical committee, said, “We’re delighted to be able to invite manufacturers to participate in the new scheme at the earliest opportunity. We’ve worked with DTG Testing to make certification as straightforward and quick as possible, taking under two weeks. We know the new scheme will deliver real benefits for manufacturers and consumers, giving them the confidence that a certified device has been tested and will deliver safety alerts reliably when they are needed the most.”

Alex Buchan, DTG CTO, said, “At DTG Testing, we are committed to ensuring that consumers have confidence in the devices they buy, and we’re delighted to expand our specialist testing and certification services to include DAB+ ASA. By supporting manufacturers with rigorous, independent testing against key standards — including ETSI TS 104 090 v1.1.2 — we are future-proofing digital radio across domestic and in-vehicle products while driving exceptional experiences for the listener.”

You can find more information about applying for ASA certification here.