The new AAC+ audio codec for DAB, which enables more stations to be carried on a DAB digital radio multiplex, will be called DAB+, it has been announced. Marketing materials designed to help consumers identify DAB+ on receivers compatible with the additional audio codec are being developed by WorldDMB.

The new codec is based on MP4 compression; currently DAB digital radio stations are broadcast in the UK using technology based on MPEG Audio Layer II (MP2) technology.

Many countries other than the UK have opted to launch digital radio broadcasts using the DAB+ standard as it is more efficient and gives better audio quality using less bandwidth (i.e. lower bitrates) for each station. Therefore, more stations can broadcast on each multiplex as each takes up less space than a station broadcasting in the original DAB standard. Whilst there are no current plans to broadcast stations in the UK using anything other than the existing DAB standard, you could take a DAB+ radio to Australia - where the DAB+ standard is being used, for example - and it will continue to receive stations. If the UK did decide to switch from DAB to DAB+ broadcasts in the future, radios and systems listed with the DAB+ logo will either work out-of-the-box to receive DAB+ stations, or a firmware (downloadable) upgrade can be purchased to make the radio tune in to DAB+ stations. Those that work out-of-the-box with DAB+ are listed as "DAB+ compatible"; those that require a downloadable upgrade to be ported across to the radio via a PC/MAC and USB cable are listed as "DAB+ compatible after upgrade".

If the UK were to switch to the new DAB+ standard, this would benefit the BBC's national services, several of which continue to broadcast in mono due to lack of space on the multiplex. The benefits of DAB+ are less clear-cut for commercial broadcasters, as the number of stations broadcasting on DAB could simply be increased to such an extent that any audio quality gains through use of the DAB+ standard are offset by such an increase.

Given that millions of DAB digital radios have been sold that cannot be upgraded to the DAB+ standard, it is unlikely the UK would switch to the DAB+ standard for many years.

However, we are seeing more and more receivers being launched that are compatible with both the DAB and DAB+ standard. This allows companies to manufacture receivers for a worldwide market and, as a result, consumers will be able to take their digital radios abroad if they wish, ensuring they can still pick up stations broadcasting in their destination country that use either DAB or DAB+ as the digital broadcast standard.