It's no secret that DAB will incorporate AAC+, so why doesn't WorldDAB just say so?

11th August 2006

As shown in the quotes below, Australia has already committed to using DAB with the AAC+ codec (dubbed 'DAB+'), and they plan to launch DAB+ on 1st January 2006.

For example, from the Commercial Radio Australia website on 27th February 2006:

"The industry is keen to “future proof” the technology platform and at the request of Federal Communications Minister Helen Coonan has taken a lead role in investigating Advanced Audio Coding (AAC/AAC+), a new compression technology for use with Eureka 147 [i.e. the DAB system] that will allow more efficient use of public spectrum."

and

"In January, Commercial Radio Australia, Austereo and the ABC joined an international working party investigating the development of AAC+."

and on the Digital Radio Australia website on 16th May 2006:

"Australian broadcasters are working with the overseas industry and major international digital receiver manufacturers on new, more efficient audio coding that, when adopted, will allow the development of a range of new, more advanced digital receivers with greater capabilities. Receivers currently on the market will not be compatible with the new platform."

Furthermore, WorldDAB's Project Director has said:

"there is a working committee looking at more efficient coding"

and

"WorldDAB is committed to keeping up with the latest technology"

There is no doubt that the AAC+ codec will be incorporated into the DAB system well before Australia launches DAB with AAC+ on 1st January 2009 (the new specification will have to be finalised before modification to existing DAB receiver software to support the new standard can be finalised, receivers that support the new standard have to be tested etc).

So why doesn't WorldDAB just say that DAB will adopt AAC+ now so that broadcasters and countries' administrations can plan for the future rather than DAB receiving lots of negative press, such as the case mentioned above where the German commercial radio industry says that DAB should be modernised or switched off?

It's absolutely bizarre.