Digital Radio Now Reaches the Majority of Estonia’s Population

Digital radio, or DAB+, is now available to 85% of Estonia’s population following the activation of all broadcasting transmitters. Coverage extends across all major highways and larger cities throughout the country.

DAB+ transmitters are now operating in Tallinn, Tartu, Pärnu, Koeru (Järvamaa), Valgjärve (Põlvamaa), Uuemõisa (Läänemaa), Kohtla-Nõmme (Ida-Virumaa), Pehka (Lääne-Virumaa) and Orissaare (Saaremaa).

“Some areas — including certain islands, parts of Rapla and Viljandi counties, the Narva region, and sections of Põlva, Valga and Võru counties — still remain outside full coverage. However, since most DAB+ listeners use it in their cars, all main highways and major urban areas are already covered,” said Indrek Lepp, Member of the Management Board and Director of Media Services at Levira, as well as Head of the Digiraadio Association.

The DAB+ platform offers a variety of radio stations that are not available on traditional FM frequencies, alongside existing FM broadcasters whose digital reach now covers much wider areas. For instance, ERR’s fifth programme, Raadio Tallinn, can now be heard nationwide. In addition, a new station — RaadioX — joined the DAB+ network in October.

To listen to DAB+ radio, a receiver with DAB+ capability is required. “All cars sold in Europe since December 2020 are equipped with DAB+ receivers as standard, and many older cars also have it as an optional feature. DAB+ radios are now widely available in stores, with prices starting from just a few dozen euros,” Lepp noted. He also recommended performing a new channel scan — both at home and in vehicles — to ensure all available DAB+ stations are found.

Coverage maps showing the theoretical DAB+ service area are available online, though real-world reception can often exceed those boundaries. “Because DAB+ uses radio waves, signal quality can vary depending on terrain, buildings, and the type of receiver used. Indoor reception may not always be possible,” explained Lepp. “Still, we encourage everyone to try DAB+ wherever they are — and remember, all DAB+ radios also include traditional FM bands.”

DAB+ represents the next generation of free-to-air radio broadcasting in Estonia, providing a broader selection of stations and superior sound quality unaffected by signal fluctuations. “When the DAB+ signal becomes too weak, the sound simply cuts out rather than producing static or distortion like FM does,” Lepp added.

Finding radio stations is also simpler than on FM: the receiver automatically scans and lists all available channels, so there’s no need to remember or manually enter frequencies. “As with FM, listening to DAB+ requires no phone, internet connection, registration, or login,” Lepp emphasized.

Importantly, DAB+ also serves as a critical emergency communication channel. Unlike FM, it ensures that public safety alerts reach all listeners, even those tuned to other stations. DAB+ receivers automatically switch to the designated emergency channel, displaying multilingual alert text on the screen alongside the broadcast.

For more information about digital radio in Estonia, visit https://dabplus.ee/.

Media contact:Indrek Lepp

Member of the Management Board

Email: indrek.lepp@levira.com