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19|12|07

Ofcom advertises new local digital radio multiplex licence for Surrey and northern Sussex

Ofcom today advertises a new local Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) radio multiplex licence to cover Surrey and northern Sussex.

Today’s advertisement is one of a number of new local radio multiplex licences planned to develop DAB coverage for local services in those parts of the country not already served. This licensing process will lead to a significant expansion in digital radio services throughout the UK.

Ofcom estimates that this licence could achieve coverage of an area with an adult (aged 15+) population of around 1,400,000. The exact coverage will be determined by the location of the successful applicant's transmission sites and other technical characteristics.

The closing date for the receipt of applications is 3.00 pm on 26 March 2008. A non-refundable fee of £15,000 will be payable for each application submitted.

This local radio multiplex will include capacity reserved for the transmission in digital form of BBC Southern Counties Radio.

The licence will be issued for a twelve-year period. All applications for this licence will be published on the Ofcom website as soon as possible after the closing date.

The full details for this licence, including the guidelines and procedures for the submission of applications, can be obtained from the Ofcom website at:

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/radio/ifi/rbl/dcr/adverts/surrey_sussex/
Ends.

NOTES FOR EDITORS

1. DAB radio multiplexes carry a number of stereo and/or mono radio channels, as well as multimedia services such as text and data.

2. Today's licence is part of a wider licensing process which will lead to a significant expansion in local and national DAB radio services over the next three years. Further details can be found within Ofcom's 'Future licensing of DAB digital radio' Statement at: http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/dab/statement/

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