What are the perspectives of DAB+ in Russia?

In this frequency band, television channels 6-12 has been working before. After Russia's shift analog TV to DVB-T2 digital television in the UHF band, the VHF "meter" band is not used, but the prospect of further use of the spectrum of 174-230 MHz is left.

In the future, stripes of radio frequencies of 2–12 television channels (58–66 MHz, 76–100 MHz and 174–230 MHz) and Sheepskin State Autonomous District (66–74 MHz) should be translated into the category of preemptive use by civil purposes.

Source: https://digital.gov.ru/ru/documents/3634/

Distribution of bands for radio broadcasting on VHF

VHF Band I

VHF Band II

VHF Band III

Further fate of the range 174-230 MHz

The distribution of frequencies between the services is engaged in the organization - the State Commission on Radio Frequencies (GKRC) under the Government of Russia.
The band of 174-230 MHz is highlighted [by the decision of the GKRC No. 18-45-03 of April 16, 2018](https: //docs.cntd.ru/document/557266521)

To allocate an indefinite circle of persons with a strip of radio frequencies 175.872-228.128 MHz to create networks of ground digital sounding of the DAB+standard on the territory of the Russian Federation.

On the forum VCFM.ru, in the topic DAB+ in Russia there have been reports that the International Telecommunication Union (ITU - The International Telecommunication Union) in February 2025 made frequency assignments for Kaliningrad и Saint Petersburg and towns of the Leningrad region.

DAB+ frequency excretion Kaliningrad, Zhelezhnodorozhnoe, Sovetsk and Veselovka - PDF: DAB+ channels 5A, 10A, 10D and 11D.
Selection of frequencies DAB+ for St. Petersburg, Gatchina, Orekhovo, Pervomaisky - PDF: DAB+ channels 9A and 9B,

Participants in the VCFM forum came to the general conclusion that the assignment of frequency channels for DAB+ does not mean anything, because there were no applications for the approval of DAB+ frequencies from Russia's bodies.

But I would like to know official information about the further use of the empty range of the VHF III 174-230 MHz in Russia.

For example, the creation of a DAB multiplex from thematic musical radio stations, such as Jazz FM, Orpheus, Studio 21, Relax FM, which I suspect have a small audience. The move to the DAB+ multiplex will allow broadcasters to reduce transmitter rental costs, as 15 music and talk radio stations with bit rates of 64-80 kbps can broadcast simultaneously in one 1.5 MHz wide channel, when compressing sound according to the AAC standard.