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Motoring news

Motor industry welcomes Digital Britain Bill

19/11/2009

The motor industry has welcomed the Government's pledge to ensure new cars are fitted with digital radios as standard within the next five years.

Despite pointing out that it "does have reservations about the timetable for introduction", the Society for Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) called for a "collaborative approach" between the industry, broadcasters and the Government.

Enshrined in the Queen's Speech yesterday, the Government hopes that the wide-ranging Digital Economy Bill will strengthen the UK's communications infrastructure, and position the country at the cutting edge of digital communications.

For motorists, the bill should mean that new cars will be fitted with digital radios from 2014. However, concerns have been raised over the need for the Government to enforce the move, which it is feared could alienate those with older cars.

The plans were outlined in the Digital Britain Report - for which the car industry pledged support last month - and are intended to stimulate the fitting of digital radios in vehicles, the uptake of which currently lags behind domestic adoption.

According to the report, the slow rollout of the new platform - which the Government believes is essential to improve radio functionality and content - is holding back the future of digital radio.

All analogue AM and FM stations are due to be turned off once 50% of all radio listening is digital, and all major roads and 90% of homes can receive digital broadcasts.

"Broadcasters must now increase the content and coverage of digital radio and work with [the] Government to build awareness of its availability," said SMMT chief executive Paul Everitt.

"This will help generate consumer demand to justify investment by vehicle manufacturers."