Next RDS Forum meeting in October 2026 at Geneva
RDS Forum - the association of RDS users
Swiss public radio switched off FM already at the start of 2025.
Private broadcasters in Switzerland may use FM only until the end of 2026.
Many specialists in radio broadcasting were surprised as this will position Switzerland as an island with a black hole for FM radio in the heart of Europe. Millions of Swiss and foreign older cars that continue to travel on Swiss roads have only FM/RDS radios on board. They can then no longer be alerted about any unexpected electricity power cuts and extreme traffic and weather conditions, unless they use DAB+ to FM radio adaptors in cars not equipped for DAB+, for which the majority will most likely not care at all.
What has happened recently in Spain and Portugal with the sudden total electricity power failure has well demonstrated how important FM radio still is. For the authorities to alert the public and to keep it informed, FM radio still remains the most efficient technology so far available.
Download the RDS Forum document R25/006_1 to get a better understanding about what makes sense and what not in this 10 year long development, driven by the Swiss regulator OFCOM/BAKOM.
The document contains technical expert information.
- The German version of document R25/006_1_de can be downloaded from here.
- The French version of document R25/006_1_fr can be downloaded from here.
The RDS Forum has in addition for your information a frequently updated presentation that discusses the Switch-off FM radio evolution in Switzerland and the criticism surrounding it.
Here you can download a presentation giving you more background information about the planned Swiss FM switch off.