Sweden to switch off FM

In Stockholm yesterday it was announced that Sweden will be turning off FM radio within the next ten years.
As in other countries contemplating switchoff, there are a set of conditions for the industry to hit, including a coverage requirement and a 50% digital radio reach figure.
The "50%" target is different to the target in the UK, where the target is a 50% digital radio share-of-listening figure. The UK has already hit a 50% digital radio reach figure - 51.2% now listens to digital radio every week; however, the Swedish target is a daily reach figure which will be harder to hit.
There's no scope for community radio stations to join DAB+ in Sweden at present. This isn't, therefore, an "FM switchoff" - rather, a migration of larger stations to DAB+.
 

Shutdown of FM

FM transmissions will be discontinued in 2022, given that four conditions are met. The first is that the digital transmission of public service has the same coverage as its existing FM transmissions, namely 99.8 per cent. The second is that the digital transmissions offer broader choice and more value for the listener. The third condition is that 50 per cent of the radio listeners daily listen to digital radio, and is therefore not dependent on FM. And finally, that there are economical and practical possibilities to convert car receivers for digital reception. If these conditions are met in 2020, FM transmissions will be discontinued in 2022. If the conditions are not met, FM will instead be discontinued in 2024, allowing for more time to improve the conditions.

The Swedish Broadcasting Authority will monitor how the shutdown conditions are met and report to the government. In 2018, the Authority will also evaluate the conditions as such.

Consequences

Listeners need to invest in new equipment. Due to this technology shift, approximately 10 million receivers need to be exchanged before their expected operating lifespan expires. If all of these are discarded in the same year, they will amount to 3 per cent of electronic waste in Sweden that year.

Digitalization of terrestrial radio in Sweden will not only give listeners more radio but will also increase overall competition in the radio industry, both within commercial radio and between commercial radio and public service.

Decreased energy costs and more efficient transmissions are long-term consequences of the technology shift.