The history of radio and Cellnex/Broadcast Partners’ role in it

Feb. 13, 2025: World Radio Day.

A day on which the heart of many a radio enthusiast beats faster – and that certainly applies to Broadcast Partners. A great moment to look back on the rich history and impressive development of radio, to reflect on the indispensable role this medium plays in our daily lives, and to look ahead to the promising future that radio still has to offer.

The development of radio in the Netherlands

Radio originated in the late 19th century and grew into a mass medium in the 1920s, bringing news, music and entertainment directly to the people. Radio played a crucial role during World War II, after which the medium continued to evolve with innovations such as FM, transistor radios and digital broadcasting.

To meet the increasing demand for radio, CBT Electronic was founded in 1979 in Terneuzen, later renamed Broadcast Partners. Starting in the late 1990s, Broadcast Partners began working with commercial broadcasters to make the FM band more accessible. This led to the design of the Zero-base frequency plan.

The big break came in 2003, when the Netherlands went through the largest ever reallocation of FM frequencies. This operation gave the Dutch radio landscape a major boost, with more space for stations and listeners. But developments did not stand still. With the rise of DAB+, a new era dawned for radio.

In 2013, Broadcast Partners deployed the first nationwide DAB+ network on behalf of the national commercial broadcasters. With this, Broadcast Partners is playing a crucial role in shaping the digital future of radio and helping to build the future of this beloved medium.

Why does radio play such a crucial role in our lives?

Radio is a natural part of everyday life for many people. It is all around us: you get up with it, listen to it in the car, turn it on during holidays, and hear it in the supermarket, in stores or even at the hairdresser’s. In short, radio is always present. But it is more than just a source of entertainment.

Radio plays an essential role in our society. It connects (local) communities with (regional) news, culture and events, and provides a platform where stories are shared and heard. In addition, radio is a unique platform to raise social and political awareness. It gives citizens a voice and encourages them to actively participate in the public debate.

What we often forget is the crucial importance of radio during crises. In emergencies, radio proves its value time and again as an essential means of communication. When other networks fail, radio remains operational and provides reliable information to the population.

Developments don’t stop

Over the years, the radio industry has seen numerous developments. DAB+ has made its appearance, augmenting traditional FM broadcasting with digital technology. DAB+ offers more efficient use of the radio spectrum and creates space for more stations.

In addition, the rise of Internet radio and streaming has made radio accessible via computers and smartphones. This offers not only global reach and on-demand listening, but also personalized channels. An interesting development is Visual Radio, which enriches live broadcasts with imagery, such as video content, graphics and social media integration.

Yet FM also remains an important part of the radio landscape, thanks to its broad accessibility, reliability and large listener base. FM is also important in emergency situations; for example, when mobile networks or the Internet goes down, FM radio remains operational.

Future trends and how Broadcast Partners/Cellnex is capitalizing on them.

The transmission range is a decisive factor in the success of a radio station. We make every effort to continuously improve a radio station’s lifeline. When it comes to coverage of airwaves, we check the theoretical coverage and get the most out of the broadcast license. We do this through a sophisticated combination of transmitting equipment, antenna systems and set-up points. Cellnex Netherlands has 24 high transmitter masts and more than 4000 set-up points suitable for telecommunications and Broadcast. We constantly check our transmitter networks through our self-developed monitoring and surveillance system. Thus, we are always instantly informed about the current ins and outs of our transmitters! In addition, we carry out practical field and drone measurements to optimize the transmitter network on an ongoing basis and to get the most out of the license.

We also continue to continuously search for new improvements to the transmitter networks based on the latest insights and modern techniques. At the same time, we at Broadcast Partners work on innovative antenna solutions that respond to both client needs and future technology. Opportunities for expansion of the coverage area are always exploited.

Radio stations can also come to us for radio automation & broadcast products. We are also the right place for studio equipment, such as uniquely designed studio furniture and innovative antenna solutions. At the same time, we offer solutions when it comes to radio making in the cloud. We make digital broadcasting possible with our own designed DAB+ hardware and software solution aXemble. We have a customized solution for every radio station!