WorldDAB is a non-profit standard promotion organization in the global digital broadcasting industry (formerly the DAB Alliance, renamed in 2018). Its core mission is to develop and promote DAB/DAB+ digital broadcasting technical specifications, driving global technical standardization and interoperability. The so-called "WorldDAB Certification" is not a mandatory certificate issued by a single organization, but a globally adopted ecosystem of technical specifications and logo licensing. To obtain WorldDAB logo authorization and access global markets smoothly, devices must meet technical standards defined by WorldDAB and comply with legal requirements of target markets.

I. Core Positioning of WorldDAB

-Nature: A non-profit industry forum headquartered in London and regulated by Swiss law, not an official certification or licensing body

-Core Responsibilities: Develop DAB/DAB+ technical specifications (aligned with ETSI international standards), promote unified logos, coordinate industry resources, and drive technical upgrades

-Membership: 107 organizations across 33 countries, including broadcasters (e.g., BBC, ARD Germany), device manufacturers (e.g., Bosch, Sony), regulators (e.g., ETSI CEPT), and chipmakers

-Core Value: Build a bridge between standards, industry, and markets to ensure global interoperability of DAB/DAB+ devices

  II. Essence of the WorldDAB Certification Ecosystem

The core of the WorldDAB certification ecosystem lies in technical compliance plus logo licensing—not traditional certification with certificate issuance. It has two core components:

1.Technical Compliance Benchmark: Based on ETSI international standards (e.g., ETSI EN 300 401, ETSI EN 302 307), WorldDAB sets unified technical specifications for DAB/DAB+ devices, defining key indicators such as radio frequency performance, audio coding, and anti-interference capability (e.g., reception sensitivity ≤-85dBm, HE-AAC v2 coding support, bit error rate ≤10⁻⁴), serving as the global technical benchmark for device development

2.Logo Usage Authorization: Devices passing tests by WorldDAB-authorized labs and meeting technical specifications can obtain authorization to use its global unified logo (DAB+ international logo). This logo is a key symbol for consumers to identify compliant products and a hidden threshold for market access

In short: WorldDAB does not issue certificates directly, but its defined technical specifications and logo licensing are core prerequisites for devices to enter the global digital broadcasting market.

  III. WorldDAB Logos & Associated Certification Schemes

1.WorldDAB Global Unified Logo (Core Logo)

·Launch Date: Replaced the old black-and-white DAB logo in 2018 for global unified use

·Authorization Criteria: Devices pass tests by WorldDAB-authorized labs and meet technical specifications

·Scope of Application: Globally applicable to all DAB/DAB+ devices including automotive, home, and portable models

·Value: Enhance product recognition and prove compliance with global mainstream technical standards to the market

2.Associated Certification Schemes (Not part of WorldDAB, but standard-compatible independent certifications)

·UK Digital Radio Tick Mark: Managed by Digital Radio UK, extended from WorldDAB technical specifications. Requires devices to support DAB, DAB+, and FM, with functions like service following—core access logo for the UK market

·EU DAB+ ASA Certification: Special certification for Automatic Safety Alert systems, based on WorldDAB safety specifications. Requires devices to receive and respond to emergency alerts, with wake-up function. Germany plans mandatory implementation in 2025 as an EU-recognized safety standard

·Middle East SASO/Dubai DEWA Certification: Mandatory local compliance certifications in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, based on WorldDAB technical specifications. Devices must pass tests by local accredited labs for market access

Key Distinction:These regional certifications are not part of the WorldDAB ecosystem, but local legal requirements developed by national regulators based on WorldDAB technical specifications. Devices must first meet WorldDAB standards to pass regional certifications—they follow a standard foundation + regional implementation relationship.

  IV. Scope of WorldDAB Certification Application

All DAB/DAB+ devices must meet WorldDAB technical specifications and pass corresponding regional certifications for global market access, including:

·Automotive Electronics: Car radios, in-vehicle entertainment systems, DAB+ adapters, intelligent cockpit modules

·Consumer Electronics: Home radios, portable radios, DAB+ smart speakers, mobile phone receiver modules

·Broadcasting Infrastructure: Digital broadcasting transmitters, repeaters, encoders, signal monitoring equipment

·Core Components: DAB/DAB+ decoding chips, receiver modules, antenna assemblies

  V. Global Market Access Requirements for WorldDAB Certification

WorldDAB technical specifications are universal standards for global digital broadcasting devices, but market access requires compliance with local legal requirements. Key market requirements:

·EU: CE certification (radio frequency, EMC directives) required, with tests based on WorldDAB technical specifications. Since late 2020, all new car radios must support DAB/DAB+ (model compliance requirement, not mandatory for individual devices)

·UK: Ofcom compliance audit and Digital Radio Tick Mark certification required for market circulation

·Middle East (Saudi Arabia, UAE): Mandatory local certifications (SASO, Dubai DEWA) required, with tests fully aligned to WorldDAB technical specifications. Non-compliant products are banned from import and sale

·Southeast Asia (Thailand, Malaysia): WorldDAB technical specifications serve as access benchmarks; compliance tests by local regulators required

·Australia, New Zealand: RCM certification required, with tests incorporating WorldDAB technical specifications—DAB+ is the mainstream digital broadcasting standard

  VI. WorldDAB Certification Compliance Process for Devices

To obtain WorldDAB logo authorization and global market access, follow this core process:

1.R&D Adaptation: Develop and debug devices per WorldDAB technical specifications (aligned with ETSI standards)

2.Lab Testing: Submit devices to WorldDAB-authorized labs (or target market-accredited labs) for full tests including radio frequency performance, audio quality, anti-interference, and compatibility

3.Logo Authorization: Apply for WorldDAB logo usage authorization after passing tests

4.Regional Compliance: Apply for local legal certifications (CE, SASO, RCM, etc.) for target markets, submitting test reports and supporting documents

5.Market Access: Enter markets after obtaining regional certification and WorldDAB logo authorization; logo authorization requires regular review (typically 1-3 years)

  VII. Core Value of the WorldDAB Ecosystem

1.For Manufacturers: Clarify R&D directions, reduce cross-market adaptation costs, enhance global compatibility and competitiveness; WorldDAB logo boosts consumer trust

2.For Consumers: Quickly identify compliant products via unified logos, ensuring stable reception, CD-quality audio, and access to more channels and data services

3.For Industry: Drive DAB/DAB+ standardization, reduce technical barriers, and promote industry chain collaboration (chips, devices, broadcasters)

4.For Regulators: Provide unified evaluation standards to streamline market supervision and protect consumers

The essence of WorldDAB Certification is a global ecosystem of universal technical specifications, logo licensing, and regional compliance implementation. It is not a single pass, but a foundational benchmark for devices entering the global digital broadcasting market. The core challenge for enterprises is to achieve triple alignment: WorldDAB technical compliance, local legal certification, and logo authorization. For professional certification consulting, contact BLUEASIA at +86 13534225140.