WorldDAB and Digitalradio Deutschland e.V. proudly announce the launch of the “Automatic Safety Alert (ASA)” system after two years of intensive collaboration. This pioneering innovation in DAB+ digital radio technology aims to protect the public during emergencies by delivering reliable safety alerts without requiring an internet connection.
The alerts will be transmitted to both static and mobile receivers, with the vehicle location known from the GNSS navigation system. The alerts are geofenced and only those corresponding to the vehicle location will be played.
Listeners will benefit from a system that alerts them even if mobile or internet connections are disrupted. ASA operates automatically in the background, can be regionally adjusted for the location, and boasts high resilience thanks to the robust DAB+ radio transmission network. The new standard will be published globally shortly, with initial tests scheduled for the IFA Berlin and the nationwide Warntag in Germany in September. By mid-2025, new generations of DAB+ radios will support the ASA standard.
Jacqueline Bierhorst, President, WorldDAB said: “Radio is consistently named as one of the most trusted media around the world. It’s also rightly recognised for its critical role in times of crisis. Now, with this important digital innovation, DAB+ is future proofing this, offering listeners the reassurance of receiving Automatic Safety Alerts, tailored to their location.”
Public and private radio broadcasters, device manufacturers, and German safety authorities such as the Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK) have joined forces to create a critical component for crisis communication using DAB+ digital radio. With powerful transmitters covering large distances, DAB+ can send regionalised warnings, ensuring people in affected areas receive timely and accurate alerts.
The catastrophic flood in the Ahr Valley three years ago, which resulted in numerous fatalities, spurred this development in Germany. Given the current global instability and climate change, ASA holds significant international importance as DAB+ is available in around 70 percent of Europe. ASA allows radio broadcasters worldwide to enhance the safety of their listeners.
Additional text and image information accompanying spoken alert messages make warnings clearer and more understandable for affected individuals. International standardisation and resource-efficient programming further ensure the system’s future viability on a global scale.
WorldDAB, Digitalradio Deutschland e.V., and chip manufacturer Frontier Smart Technologies are working closely with manufacturers such as TechniSat and JVCKenwood to bring ASA-compatible devices to market, via their Siena Pro module and Kino 4 Pro chip with a new software SDK version.
With the standard’s release, all DAB+ radio manufacturers worldwide are encouraged to integrate ASA into their product lines to ensure public safety through a wide range of brands. Frontier Smart Technologies have announced that the production version of ASA-compatible solutions will be available in Q4, enabling manufacturers to offer new devices to the market next summer. Other chip manufacturers are expected to follow suit.
