Panama City, Panama, and Columbia, MD - May 19, 2009 - After reviewing several digital radio technologies, the Republic of Panama has selected the HD Radio in-band, on channel (IBOC) system as its official digital radio standard on May 12, 2009.

More than 2,000 AM and FM stations are broadcasting with HD Radio technology with ongoing operations in Brazil, Dominican Republic, Indonesia, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, the Philippines, Switzerland, Thailand, Ukraine and the United States Tests have been undertaken in Argentina, Bosnia, Canada, China, Colombia, Czech Republic, Germany, New Zealand, Poland, Romania and Vietnam.

In Decree No. 96, the Panamanian government states that it selected IBOC technology after the country's Digital Broadcasting Technical Commission reviewed IBOC, Eureka 147 and (Digital Radio Mondiale).

Article 1 of the decree states:

The standard ... of IBOC (in band on channel) for digital radio [is] adopted in the Republic of Panama, with the goal of offering the users and operators of radio ... services the greatest flexibility and facility in terms of the social, economic, technical and regulatory aspects.