Mid and West Wales Labour AM Alun Davies has welcomed the announcement by media regulator that there will be new services available to DAB digital radio listeners in mid and west Wales. OFCOM has invited applications from broadcast media groups to apply for a licence to broadcast new digital radio stations across the entire region. For the first time this would also allow BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio Cymru to be available on DAB radio in Pembrokeshire. Alun Davies said: "This is welcome news. It can be said that Wales, especially mid and west Wales, has lagged behind in the provision of new technologies. I am certainly aware of an increasing number of broadband blackspots. However, in terms of broadcasting, I am pleased that the process for creating this new licence has been agreed. "Until now, it is only national stations like BBC Radio 1 and 2 and commercial concerns like Virgin and Talksport that have been available on DAB here. When the licence has been awarded and broadcasts commence, listeners will be able to receive more locally relevant content, including stations like BBC Radio Wales which in some parts of mid and west Wales is only available on medium wave." OFCOM has announced that two frequencies will be available to cover Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Powys, allowing over 400,000 adults greater listening choice. Like digital TV, a single digital multiplex can carry many more radio stations, including data and text services. The closing date for applications for the 12-year licence is February 20, 2008.
