Public service broadcasters are the "most important link" in achieving radio's transition to the digital listening age. 

Patrick Hannon, President of WorldDMB - the global industry forum for facilitating the implementation of the DAB family of standards - told the Euroradio Assembly in Amsterdam, "PSM has a responsibility to sell the benefits of digital radio to its audiences."

"Digital radio offers three key consumer benefits - sound quality, choice and additional features," he said. "For broadcasters, efficiency is a staggering ten per cent of the cost of broadcasting on FM."

Since the launch of digital radio ten years ago, Mr Hannon said the price of devices has become extremely affordable.

Increasingly, said EBU Head of Radio Christian Vogg, the automotive sector is advancing the transition. The Assembly heard that Mercedes is the latest manufacturer to embrace DAB. 

"Across Europe, broadcasters in UK, Norway and Switzerland are leading the way," said Mr Vogg. "The Netherlands and Poland joined in recently, whereas in Germany - the biggest radio market in Europe - we await these days a clear decision by ARD to move forward with already existing DAB+."

The EBU launched its Digital Radio initiative to coordinate and emphasize the implementation of digital radio in Europe within the coming years.