Digital Radio is the transmission of information through the digital modulation method of Radio. Analog radio is the transmission of information through non-digital means, whose propagation in the night (AM Radio), tends to propagate with more distance. Analog Radio is used throughout Brazil.
The main advantages of Digital Radio are improved sound quality (AM Radio with FM quality and CD-quality FM Radio) and more options for the listener, such as digital signage with additional information such as news and weather.
Radio scanning and partnership with new media also offer more efficient use of spectrum, interactivity, lower electricity consumption, possibilities of new business models and greater participation in the advertising market.
Digital Radio Standards
In several countries, the standards are being studied, tested and compared, and there is no single standard, as in the case of Analog Radio. The criteria for choosing the Digital standard include market characteristics of each country (consumers, broadcasters and manufacturers), technical quality of the transmissions (robustness, interference and audio quality), propagation conditions in local soil (extension of the coverage area) , occupancy of the spectrum and compatibility of digital and analog signals.
American Standard - IBOC (In-Band On-Channel).
IBOC (also known commercially as "HD Radio") is a proprietary standard of the iBiquity company. The hybrid IBOC standard transmits the Digital audio signal along with the existing analog signal from the AM and FM radios.
European Standard - DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting)
Also known as Eureka 147, DAB + and DRM (Digital Radio Mondiale).
Japanese Standard - ISDB-TSB (Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting, Terrestrial, Segmented Band)
Other standards - Satellite radio subscription (eg Sirius, XM and World Space), Internet radio.
Digital Radio in Brazil
The Ministry of Communications is testing and evaluating Digital Radio systems and has opened a public call for submissions of the existing systems.
Some radio stations are already operating the digital radio system on an experimental basis. Tests with the American and European systems will define the best proposal in accordance with the Brazilian reality.
(source: Wikipedia)