Digital One Set For 80% UK Coverage By July 2001

Twenty new transmitters are to be added to Digital One’s 29-strong digital radio network. When commissioned, these will bring the percentage of the population able to recieve national digital radio to nearly 80% or around 40 million individuals. Commissioning of the transmitters, which are being built by NTL, is scheduled to take place between now and June 2001. By then 12 million more people will either be able to receive the signal for the first time or get an improved reception. The first of the new transmitters should be switched on in June and will cover the areas of Dover and South East Kent, Southampton, Portsmouth and Hampshire. Following that, services for East and West Sussex, East Lancashire, West Yorkshire, Wiltshire, Bristol and Bath will follow, along with improved coverage of the main motorway networks.