Norway will become the first country in the world to phase out FM radio, beginning this week.
With the growing popularity of digital radio (DAB), the government made a decision back in 2011 that beginning from today, the country will gradually begin to switch from FM to digital, with the process completed by December 13th. The reason for the switch was also due to Norway's landscape "with deep fjords, high mountains and scattered communities" making it difficult to continue broadcasting on FM frequencies.
It means that national stations and most regional stations will stop broadcasting on FM, although some local stations will continue to do so.
Norway's move has led to speculation that digital radio will eventually overtake FM broadcasting globally, considering that it is cheaper (Norway is saving a reported €22 million per year) - but also that the switch will lead to an increase in national stations. At the moment, Norway operates just five national stations - but on DAB, it could operate up to 40.
Even so, it appears that two-thirds of the population are against the switch, according to a poll in newspaper Dagbladet - so it may yet require some time until the general public get on board with digital.