The future is not broadcast vs IP. It's broadcast plus IP.
Radio World - Global Radio Update 2026
Christophe Poulain is co-president of WorldCast Systems. He joined the company in 1999 and has played a key role in its international expansion, including helping establish and develop the company's U.S. subsidiary to grow business across the Americas. He now leads the company's global growth and innovation strategy.
RW: WorldCast Systems sells into many countries and markets. When you look at the state of radio around the world, what would you say are the most important macro changes in transmission and technology platforms?
Christophe Poulain: The biggest change is that radio is no longer defined by a single transmission path. Broadcasters are managing a hybrid ecosystem: FM remains essential in many markets, DAB+ is growing in others, streaming is now part of every broadcaster’s strategy, and monitoring/NMS platforms are becoming critical to manage quality, uptime and energy efficiency across complex networks.
We also see strong pressure on operational efficiency. Energy consumption, remote management, predictive maintenance and total cost of ownership are now central topics, not secondary ones. Broadcasters want resilient networks, but they also want smarter, greener and more automated infrastructure.
RW: Is digital radio broadcasting expanding? If so, where?
Poulain: Yes, digital radio is expanding, but not uniformly. DAB+ is strongest in Europe, with mature markets such as the U.K., France, Norway, Switzerland, Poland, Germany, Italy, Belgium and the Netherlands, and growing interest in other regions. We also see activity a rising interest in parts of the Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific. HD radio is present in the USA, although no other country across the American continent has implemented this technology nationwide
The key point is that digital radio succeeds where there is alignment between regulators, broadcasters, receiver availability and a clear consumer benefit. Technology alone is not enough; the ecosystem has to be ready. For instance, we also see in France radio stations concerned about the cost of both FM and DAB+ services. In a period where we face an economic crisis or at least incertitude about the future, it might slow down digital radio expansion.
RW: We’ve seen instances where countries like Norway and Switzerland are moving away from FM broadcasting. Do you feel this trend will accelerate; why or why not?
Poulain: It might accelerate in some countries, but not everywhere. Norway showed that a national FM switch-off is possible under the right conditions. Switzerland has shown the complexity of transition: public broadcasters moved away from FM, while private and political considerations have kept FM in the discussion. In the UK, FM was supposed to be switched off in 2017 and in 2026 we see new investments in the FM infrastructure.
So, I do not believe in a single global scenario. In dense, mature DAB+ markets, FM reduction might happen. But in many regions, FM remains extremely efficient, affordable, universal and trusted. For community radio, emerging markets and emergency communication, FM will remain highly relevant for many years. Let’s not forget that AM is also still available in many countries.