ETSI EN 300 401 establishes a broadcasting standard for the Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) system designed for delivery of high-quality digital audio and video programmes and data services for mobile, portable and fixed reception from terrestrial transmitters in the Very High Frequency (VHF) frequency bands as well as for distribution through cable networks. The DAB system is designed to provide spectrum and power efficient techniques in terrestrial transmitter network planning, known as the Single Frequency Network (SFN) and the gap-filling technique. The DAB system meets the required sharing criteria with other radiocommunication services.

The present document defines the DAB transmission signal. It includes the coding algorithms for multiplexing of audio and video programmes and data services, channel coding and modulation. Provision is also made for transmission of additional data services which may be programme related or not, within the limit of the total system capacity. The present document provides information on the system configuration which includes information about the ensembles, services, service components and linking of them.

The present document describes the nominal characteristics of the emitted DAB signal. The aspects related to the receiver design are outside the scope of the present document.