Mexico Authorizes Transition to HD Radio™ Broadcasting for Stations Within 320 Kilometers of Country’s Northern Border with the U.S.

Columbia, MD, May 21, 2008 – Mexico’s Federal Telecommunications Commission (CoFeTel) announced last week that it is authorizing radio stations within 320 kilometers (200 miles) from its border with the United States to begin transmitting with digital HD Radio technology.

In an official statement, the CoFeTel said: “Que tomando en cuenta el grado de desarrollo e implementación del sistema IBOC en los Estados Unidos de América, se requiere que México instrumente acciones decisivas, para que los concesionarios y permisionarios de radiodifusión sonora mexicanos ubicados en la zona de 320 kilómetros dentro de la frontera norte de México, puedan realizar sus transmisiones en igualdad de condiciones tecnológicas, en beneficio de la calidad del servicio que proporcionan al público radioescucha.”

The translation is: “Considering the extent of the development and implementation of the IBOC system in the United States of America, Mexico is required to take decisive action so that [the country’s AM and FM radio stations] in the zone located within 320 kilometers of the northern border of Mexico can transmit at the same technological level so that they can provide and benefits  of  quality of service to the radio listening public.” It went on to state that stations that want to transmit with the IBOC (HD Radio) system must request authorization from CoFeTel and must commit to assisting the commission in studying the technology.

 

“We’re deeply grateful to the Mexican broadcasting industry for its decision to join the HD Radio phenomenon,” said Bob Struble, President and CEO of iBiquity Digital, the developer of HD Radio technology. “As the outstanding success we’re seeing in the United States is mirrored elsewhere in the world, more and more countries will reap the benefits of this technology’s efficient use of spectrum to bring very high-quality audio and data to consumers.”

 

About iBiquity Digital

iBiquity Digital Corporation is the developer of the HD Radio™ system that is powering the AM/FM digital radio revolution. This transformational technology is enabling AM and FM stations to broadcast digital audio and data. Due in large part to HD Radio technology’s ability to deliver digital-quality sound and services while leveraging existing analog spectrum, HD Radio technology is available throughout the U.S. and commercial implementation is gaining momentum in various countries, including Brazil, Mexico and The Philippines. Testing and demonstrations of the system are also underway in Canada, China, Colombia, Germany, Indonesia, Jamaica, New Zealand, Poland, Switzerland, Thailand and Ukraine, and various other countries around the world.

 

HD Radio technology allows AM/FM broadcasters to offer crystal-clear digital sound and scrolling text.  Multiple channels can be offered from a single FM frequency, and advanced services such as traffic updates and location-based information, are possible…all subscription free. There are over 1,600 HD Radio stations in the United States with more than 800 new multicast channels are also on the air.

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