In an attempt to further develop its Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) radio technology, Norway will be slowly shutting down its FM radio frequencies starting next week. Norway will be ditching the analog radio platform in exchange for a digital one.

Though there have been an increase in DAB users in Norway, the decision of the country's government to completely shut down the FM analog radio frequencies is still met with a lot of criticism. In fact, in a poll conducted by the daily Dagbladet, 66% of all the respondents voiced out their opposition to the move and only 17% gave their approval for the move to shut down Norway FM radio frequencies, the others being undecided.

The Government of Norway stated that the move to shut down the country's FM radio frequency will bring the country savings which could amount to $23.5million and that the switch to Digital Audio Broadcasting will actually provide cleared sounds to listeners compared to FM radio.

The principal consideration in shutting down the country's analog radio platform according to Norway government is that country's topography makes it difficult and more expensive for the country to run FM radio frequencies compared to other countries. Norway is surrounded with high mountains and deep fjords.

Despite the rather good reasons of the Norway government in shutting down its FM radio frequencies, some critique has voiced out strong oppositions to the move. FM radio companies and operators, in particular, stated that the cost of converting their FM frequencies into Digital Audio Broadcasting would be considerable as the move to shut down the FM radio frequencies will render about 8million FM stations useless.

The move to shut down the FM radio frequencies will also cause some inconvenience to radio users as they will be forced to buy adapters for the FM radios or to purchase new DAB radios. The cost of each adapter for an FM car radio is $1,500.