Saltito Media Limited’s small-scale DAB licence award for the Isles of Scilly has been revoked by Ofcom because the company failed to confirm a launch date for the service.
This suggested that they would not be able to meet the regulatory requirement of starting broadcasts within the 18-month period that ended on 21 March 2025.
This is the second time the Isles of Scilly multiplex licence has been revoked. The first licence, awarded to Like DAB Limited, was withdrawn in January 2023 due to difficulties in securing transmitter sites and the logistical challenges of operating in the remote island location.
The Isles of Scilly multiplex was re-advertised in Round 5 of Ofcom’s small-scale DAB licensing process, and Saltito Media Limited won the bid in September 2023.
However, despite securing the licence, the company did not progress far enough to ensure a definite launch.
Ofcom has not yet announced whether it will re-advertise the licence again.
The repeated revocations highlight the unique challenges of setting up and sustaining a digital radio service in a small and geographically isolated area like the Isles of Scilly.