Within the UK, local radio on DAB is only available to about three quarters of the population. This is because only 7 channels are currently allocated to DAB and major cities are served by both a local and a regional multiplex. This means that many listeners do not have access to a full selection of programme formats and puts a number of AM stations. To provide county wide coverage for new multiplexes requires further channels to be allocated to DAB. Within band III, there is a good chance of channels 1OC, 10D and 11A being allocated to DAB within the next few years, and possibly channels 10A and 10 B as well. L band spectrum is due to be made available in 2007. However, L band coverage requires more transmitters and many DAB receivers in the UK only receive band III.

In the mean-time local coverage within the current seven channels could be extended immediately by introducing a number of small-scale multplexes. These would broadcast at a lower power and coverage would be limited to cities and large towns, with a coverage radius of around 10 km each In most cases, it would be necessary to co-ordinate with other multiplex operators to limit adjacent channel interference to the national services. The following channels could be used:

• Dover and Folkestone: 12A
• Oxford: 11B (transmitters broadcasting away from London)
• Gloucester and Cheltenham (not Stroud): 12D (screened from West Wiltshire by the Cotswolds)
• Worcester and Malvern: 12C
• Hereford: 11C
• Ipswich: 11B (directional transmission), 11C, 12A or 12C (depending on international clearance)
• Northampton: 11C or 12C
• Milton Keynes: 12D
• York and Harrogate (not Selby): 11C

There is no frequency available for covering Derby; th eonly option would be to extend the Nottingham multiplex. There are also no frequencies available for Northern Ireland at present, but this is likely to change in 2006 when the Irish Republic ceases TV broadcasting in band III.