Could Digital Audio Broadcasting be the future of radio?
Reflections from an industry gathering; Broadcasting at the Crossroads.
This article talks about the reason why you might find the quality of your radio’s transmission poor. As the statistics would reveal, our radio frequency spectrum (especially in the capital) is densely populated. However, the NCA proposes a solution in Digital Audio Broadcast. This is part of a series of conversations emanating from ‘Broadcasting at the Crossroads’, a convening of stakeholders in the media industry organized by the Africa Media Bureau and partners on Friday 26th September 2025 at Alisa Hotel, Accra.
First question you might ask is “what is Digital Audio Broadcasting” or DAB (pronounced D.A.B) as it is known in short. It is simply a system where radio frequencies are transmitted via digital than the analogue signals as the case is in Frequency Modulation or FM.1
In Ghana this move has become necessary because the FM frequencies are limited. With a DAB+ receiver, one could get signals of stations without limits. Some of its anticipated benefits include wider channel ranges, better sound quality, wider channel range and allows for name search rather than dials as the case is in FM format.2 Ghana is among a few countries on the continent who are experimenting the technology with some 18 stations; 7 in Kumasi and 11 in Accra. This trial is on pilot basis to help regulators ascertain realities in its implementation.
The 1992 Constitution of Ghana contributed greatly to a liberalized media space that continue to deepen our democracy as a country. However, beneath this beautiful cover are the realities of an oversaturated media space especially in radio. Indeed as of the second quarter of 2025, Ghana has some 31 Public Radio Stations, 5 Public (Foreign) Radio Stations, 155 Community Radio Stations, 24 Campus Radio Stations and a whopping 548 Commercial Radio Stations.3 These make 763 radio stations against 181 for television.
A sore thumb of this reality is that radio spectrum coverage has been reduced to 45km range from an initial 100km.4
Responding to this matter, Rev. Ing. Yirenkyi Fianko, Ag. Director General at the National Communications Authority said:
“We started from 100, we came to 55 and then 45. We can’t go further down. That oen we agree. We have stations in Accra which were also going even beyond Koforidua etc. There are also people in Koforidua who are also looking for broadcasting frequency authorization that are local to them…”
What this means is that a radio station in Accra can only go a little after Aburi. At that point, their transmission is cut off. The result of this is that radio is suffering greatly from advertising revenue which continues to be central to revenue generation as advertising appeal goes down. In this mix of trouble comes the question of the purpose some of these stations are serving. With some operating on very controversial lines, industry players called for the need to introduce regulations on who gets a spectrum to produce content.
In any case there are a lot of stations that have received the authorization but are yet to commence operations.
While all of these linger, the questions remains, can DAB be the solution to the over saturation?
LIVE! Broadcasting at the Crossroads: Shaping Ghana’s Media Future | AMBForum2025 (46th - 48th minute)