NORWAY has officially become the first country to cease the use of FM radio for its national broadcasts, The Guardian has reported.

The switch officially took place Wednesday in order to provide better sound quality and reduce the costs associated with radio broadcasts. The switch only applies to national radio stations. Most of Norway’s local media outlets still broadcast using FM for the time being.

Officials have said that the DAB (digital audio broadcasting) system costs about an eighth as much as traditional FM broadcasts.

Norway introduced its first digital radio station in 1995 and has 31 national radio stations on the DAB. The technology, as a whole, is popular in Europe, with at least 40 other countries (such as the United Kingdom) making use of the technology.

Despite the benefits of moving to DAB, the switch has been met with some criticism due to technical problems and complaints that there isn’t enough DAB coverage across the country. Consumers have also raised concerns about the cost of buying new receivers, which usually run between US$120 and US$235. Digitalradio Norge, a part of Norway’s public and commercial radio, noted that only 49 percent of commuters are able to listen to DAB in their cars.

An oft-cited study also noted that the number of Norwegians who listen to the radio on a daily basis has declined by about 10 percent within a year. The national public broadcaster NRK has seen an even steeper decline, with its audiences falling by about 21 percent.

Norway may have been the first country to make this switch, but it won’t be the last. Several European countries, including the United Kingdom, Denmark, and Switzerland are expected to transition to DAB within the next few years. (SD-Agencies)