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  • FáilteDAB

High Powered & Quality Digital Radio in Ireland

Introducing FáilteDAB

FáilteDAB is part of the next step in the evolution of radio in Ireland. FáilteDAB delivers trial DAB+ radio services, aiming to bring bigger, 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. FáilteDAB commenced it's first multiplex FáilteDAB Mux1 in the spring of 2025 serving the greater Leinster area. It is intended that user feedback information along with in depth surveying, collected during the trial period, 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 trial licensed 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

FáilteDAB Mux1 is powered by a network of six transmission sites with high power assignments. The coverage of this network focuses on overlapping and synchronous coverage within the greater Leinster area delivered by high powered and well situated and engineered transmission stations. FáilteDAB Mux 1 transmission sites are located in Collon in Louth, Ballbriggan, Three Rock and Saggart in Dublin and Bray and Wicklow Head in Wicklow

What Services will be on FáilteDAB?

FáilteDAB encourages and welcomes 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. Radio operators may need to hold a license issued by Coimisiún na Meán to participate in this service.
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  • Who we are

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 with a radio to be equipped with a digital radio, now is the ideal time to provide service using this technology.
2026 will 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 many years. It is expected that the receiver and technical experience gained from this trial will aid in formation of a Digital radio future for Ireland.


DAB+ Trial Network

The FáilteDAB DAB+ trial is a temporary licensed service, licensed by the communications regulator COMREG. The FáilteDAB commenced transmission in April 2025 with it's FáilteDAB Mux 1 service, providing strong coverage to the East Coast and North Leinster areas. FáilteDAB trial networks utilizes a multi-multiplexer SFN and MFN blended network design to increase efficiency, capacity and scalability within the DAB+ network rollout. The network usilizes highest performing hardware only including Paneda multiplexers, Telos Omnia audio processing, Gatesair transmitters, Com-tech critical mask filters and established, well positioned transmission sites. Site-to-site Backhaul distribution is achieved via a dedicated Comreg licensed point to point radio link network delivered using Ceragon Networks technology.
FáilteDAB provides full licensed image slideshow functionality and DLS text infomation on the carried services. An SPI channel is also transmitted to help update radio station logos.
Currently, FáilteDAB Mux 1 provides carriage to 29 audio services with a small number of these services simulcast on FM.

Coverage

FáilteDAB Mux 1 consists of a network of 6 transmission sites with high and medium powered assignments in the East Coast and North Leinster areas.
Transmission Siteas and their ERP powers are :

Louth - Mt Oriel - 8kW
Dublin - Ballbriggan - 250W
Dublin - Three Rock - 20kW
Dublin Saggart - 3.2kW
Wicklow - Bray - 1.2kW
Wicklow - Ballyguile - 3.2kW
DAB Transmitters in Leinster

    FáilteDAB News

    CategoriesDAB

    FáilteDAB announces extension and expansion to its FáilteDAB trial network

    FáilteDAB are excited to announce the extension and expansion of its DAB+ trial networks in Ireland. With the support and license approval of the Irish media and communications authorities Coimisiún na Meán and COMREG, FáilteDAB will extend its current trial network FáilteDAB Mux 1 for another 12 months while also adding significant coverage to the […]

    CategoriesDAB

    Ongoing growth in Europe drives DAB+ momentum at IBC2025

    In addition to the various base-band and RF equipment featured by several exhibitors, as well as WorldDAB’s own stand in Hall 8, the footprint of the DAB+ digital radio standard at IBC2025 included its flagship conference session on the show’s Sunday. Hosted in partnership with Broadcast Networks Europe under the headline “Shaping the future of […]

    CategoriesDAB

    BBC brings music to DAB+

    According to a press release from the BBC, it is launching “its first ever DAB+ music stations, marking a significant milestone in the history of BBC Radio.” The three originally started as streamers on BBC Sounds last fall. Wait, there’s more: “The three new station extensions from Radio 1 and Radio 3 are the first […]

    CategoriesDAB

    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 […]

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    DAB Radio Trial in Ireland

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