Penrith based Cumbria.Digital is celebrating today after Ofcom announced the company has been awarded a licence to operate a new DAB radio multiplex to serve Carlisle, Penrith, and surrounding areas.
Cumbria.Digital submitted their application to Ofcom to establish a new DAB multiplex for Carlisle and Penrith in July last year.
The new DaB multiplex will potentially offer up to 20 new radio stations across the local area including new community and local stations alongside national and specialist's stations.
Cumbria.Digital as part of its licence bid committed to reserving capacity for up to six community services, exceeding the minimum requirement ofcom required of four.
The Penrith based business plans to have the new DaB service fully operational using two transmission sites one in Carlisle and one in Penrith by early 2026.
Ofcom on announcing the awarding of the Carlisle and Penrith Licence alomg with two other areas of the UK said “Small-scale DAB is an innovative technology which provides a low-cost way for local commercial, community and specialist music services to take to the digital airwaves.”
“Following a competitive process, where each applicant was judged against specific criteria, multiplex licences have been awarded for the following areas”
Carlisle & Penrith: licence awarded to Cumbria Digital.
Corby & Kettering: licence awarded to Kettering and Corby Broadcasting Company.
East Devon: licence awarded to ExeDAB.
Jonathan Davies, Director of Cumbria.Digital, expressed gratitude for the support received from local organisations: "I would personally like to thank Eden FM, Cumberland Radio, Love Carlisle, and Penrith Town for their support. We look forward to working with them to bring their new and existing radio services to DAB in the local area, alongside other local, national and specialist stations looking to join the Carlisle and Penrith community through Cumbria.Digital."
Jonathan highlighted the significance of this milestone: "This has been a six-year journey for us, awaiting legislative and regulatory developments to catch-up with our plans to unlock the potential of local radio for the area and now with todays Ofcom licence award, The work starts for Cumbria.Digital to build the network infrastructure and unlock the potential of local digital radio capabilities to finally match other parts of the UK and also put us at the forefront of what DaB can do beyond just radio.
Cumbria.Digital also plans to establish two media hubs, providing studio facilities for community stations and provide collaborative broadcasting facilities in Carlisle and Penrith. They hope will enable collaboration and partnerships to form with local schools and universities to create educational media opportunities for students.
"We believe this initiative could be a catalyst for further opportunities locally and across Cumbria," said Jonathan. "Radio has a rich history of driving innovation and economic growth, from the early days of regular programming in the Netherlands in 1919 to the BBC's launch in 1922. We aim to continue this tradition."
Cumbria.Digital is also exploring the opportunities additional data capabilities of DAB offers, with potential to work with local councils and service providers with applications including real-time bus service updates at rural stops and local in-car traffic information as two examples the company gave.
"We are committed to unlocking DAB's full potential for the area," Jonathan added. "We look forward to collaborating with community groups and businesses to make this a shared success for the area."
The business is looking to speak with current and potential radio broadcasters be they individual's, businesses or community organisations in the area about the opportunities available with the new Carlisle and Penrith DaB multiplex. To find out more about the opportunities contact Cumbria.Digital at email@cumbria.digital
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