Arqiva has finished a major upgrade of the infrastructure supporting commercial digital radio across the UK.
This involved moving all 62 DAB multiplexes and over 1,000 radio services to its new Central Coding & Multiplexing System.
It marks the end of a multi-year programme to modernise one of the world’s most complex DAB radio networks.
The new system is designed to make digital radio more resilient and efficient, reducing operational risk and supporting future developments.
Dom Wedgwood, Chief Technology Officer at Arqiva, said the migration strengthens the resilience and future-readiness of the UK’s DAB network, while also improving efficiency and sustainability.
The project has consolidated infrastructure from 13 locations into just two central sites, with the entire system now occupying seven equipment racks.
This has led to significant reductions in hardware, power, and cooling needs. Annual electricity use has dropped by 87%, from about 1,324 MWh to 168 MWh, and estimated carbon emissions have fallen from 173 tonnes of CO₂e to 22 tonnes.
More than 300 studio encoders, 200 decoders, and over 100 racks of legacy equipment are being responsibly decommissioned and recycled through certified partners.
The completion of this programme is one of the most significant broadcast infrastructure modernisations by Arqiva and supports the long-term future of digital radio in the UK.
