Bangkok - Mar 2, 2013 - Thailand's National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission has indicated that it will likely use Australia's digital radio system as a model to migrate from analog, according to theBangkok Post.

The chairman of the NBTC's broadcasting committee, Col Natee Sukonrat, said the regulator is studying the digital radio transition in Australia, which according to the article is the country that is viewed as the most successful in implementing the scheme. Nevertheless, the NBTC has not chosen its digital radio standard. Options include DAB+ (which is used in Australia), DRM, or iBiquity's HD Radio system.

Natee said the launch of digital radio in Thailand would provide choices to consumers as it would be available in parallel with the existing analog system. There will be no shutdown of the analog system. He also indicated that NBTC expects to allot unused VHF spectrum for digital radio and will begin licensing next year, likely first in the major provinces.