FáilteDAB - Failte Dab

High Powered & Quality Digital Radio in Ireland

Introducing FáilteDAB

FáilteDAB is part of the next step in the evolution of radio in Ireland. FáilteDAB is a temporary trial service, aiming to bring bigger and better choice and quality to Irish radio.

FáilteDAB and DAB+

FáilteDAB is the next digital step for Irish radio, adding reach for broadcasters and choice for listeners to that already provided by FM broadcasting. It provides a much greater number and better selection of radio stations available to the listener, and at higher quality. It's delivered free to listeners by means of transmitted signals in a similar way to the analogue FM service. Furthermore, many DAB+ enabled radios present the DAB+ services to the listener/user alongside the FM stations with no need to do setting changes or searches. The big advantages? Choice, quality and greater radio listening!

What is the DAB+ Trial

The DAB+ trial is a temporary service, licensed by the communications regulator COMREG. The licence will operate for 365 days from late spring 2025. It is intended that user feedback along with in depth surveying, will give useful user experience and technical information to aid in the process of future licensing of DAB+ in Ireland. FáilteDAB invites licensed broadcasters to participate and be part of the multiplex services and encourages listeners to provide feedback of their experiences and views of this trial.

The Power Behind FáilteDAB

FáilteDAB is the public facing name of the operation of a DAB+ trial radio system in Ireland, licensed by COMREG to the radio engineering company Foothold Communications Limited. Foothold Communications is the foremost provider of telecom and independent radio broadcasting systems in Ireland. It owns and operates premium and stratigcally located transmission towers around Ireland and currently has over 1000 radio link and broadcast systems under management. Foothold has a highly skilled in-house team with expertise in the transmission planning, licensing and rf technology fields. Foothold is perfectly positioned to conduct the FáilteDAB DAB+ trial and push forward the technological advancement of radio in Ireland.

Coverage

The trial will consist initially of a network of six transmission sites with high power assignments. The coverage of this network will focus on overlapping and synchronous coverage within the Leinster area with a potential to extend this coverage to other parts of Ireland within the trial period.

What Services will be on FáilteDAB?

FáilteDAB encourages and welcomes all Irish Coimisiún na Meán licensed radio operators to participate in this trial to maximise the diversity of choice and number of services delivered to the listener. This, in turn, it is hoped, will encourage a greater listenership and in turn provide a useful feedback result from the trial.

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Digital Radio Excellence

FáilteDAB
is the public facing name of the operation of a high powered DAB+ trial radio system in Ireland. FáilteDAB, licensed by Comreg to the engineering company Foothold Communications, under a Trial License, aims to provide Irish radio operators and listeners an experience of DAB+ not previously experienced in Ireland.

FáilteDAB is trialling the use of a blended network design that delivers large high powered radio capacity with greater efficiency.

FáilteDAB is led by industry experts in the fields of licensing, radio planning, engineering and support to deliver this true game changer in the Irish radio industry. We have partnered with some of the industry leading transmission sites and equipment vendors such as GatesAIR and Paneda to deliver the highest quality DAB+ network possible. The network will provide a strong and dense radio signal coverage initially within the Leinster area extending to other parts of Ireland throughout the license period.

FáilteDAB welcomes radio listener and business participation.

FáilteDAB Welcomes Radio!

DAB+ & FáilteDAB

At the most basic level, DAB+ is the digital next step from FM radio broadcasting. It provides much greater number and selection of radio stations available to the listener on their radio and at higher quality.
With the lion's share of radio listening in Ireland being consumed via car radios and with regulation in force since 2021 requiring all cars to be equipped with a DAB radio, now is the ideal time to provide service using this technology.
2025 will also see the Broadcasting Services Strategy carried out by the broadcast and media regulator, Coimisiun na Mean, which will form the roadmap of radio licensing in Ireland for the next 5 years. It is expected that the user and technical experience gained from this trial will aid in the submission for licensing of DAB+ in Ireland in this process.

DAB+ Trial Network

The DAB+ trial is a temporary licensed service, licensed by the communications regulator COMREG. The license will operate for 1 year from the April 2025. It is intended that user feedback along with in depth analysis, will give useful user experience and technical information to aid in the process of future licensing of DAB+ in Ireland. FáilteDAB utilises a SFN and MFN blended network design to increase efficiency. This provides large capacity with scalability within each DAB+ network systems.

Coverage

The trial will initially consist of a network of 6 transmission sites with high power assignments. The coverage of this initial network will focus on overlapping and synchronous coverage within the Leinster area with a potential to further this coverage to other parts of Ireland within the trial period.

DAB Transmitters in Leinster

FáilteDAB News

DAB

February 17, 2025February 17, 2025

stephen foley

FáilteDAB Launch

Ireland’s First High-Powered DAB+ Broadcasting Platform Set to Launch This Spring, heralding a New Era for Irish Radio. Foothold Communications, a leader in radio and telecommunications engineering, has announced the launch of Ireland’s first high-powered DAB+ broadcast platform. The groundbreaking service, FáilteDAB, will begin broadcasting primarily from the eastern region to begin in late Spring […]

High Powered & Quality Digital Radio in Ireland

Introducing FáilteDAB

FáilteDAB and DAB+

What is the DAB+ Trial

The Power Behind FáilteDAB

Coverage

What Services will be on FáilteDAB?

Digital Radio Excellence

DAB+ & FáilteDAB

DAB+ Trial Network

Coverage

FáilteDAB News

FáilteDAB Launch

FáilteDAB News

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