Ofcom awarded a small-scale DAB multiplex licence for Ballymena to NIDAB Limited on Thursday, April 9. The licence covers Ballymena town and surrounding communities including Cullybackey, Ahoghill, Broughshane and Kells-Connor.

The multiplex supports around ten stereo digital radio services. More stations can operate using the DAB+ standard. Ballymena lacks an FM community radio station.

NIDAB Limited is a company limited by guarantee. Its key figures include David Sloan of Stewartstown, County Tyrone, chairman and director of Belfast FM and former founder and presenter at Mid 106 FM in Cookstown. Scott McClelland of Londonderry provides technical and mast infrastructure expertise via Bluebox Broadband. John Gartlan of Kilcurry, Dundalk, serves as director of Ulstermux in the Newry area. Sean Óg Mac Braoin acts as company secretary and participates in Lagan SSDAB for Greater Belfast and Lisburn, plus Blast106 and Blast106 Digital.

NIDAB previously received the Armagh small-scale DAB multiplex licence. Consortium members operate Blast106 Digital, Lagan SSDAB and Ulstermux.

Startup costs total £3,897.50 for transmission equipment, antenna, computing hardware and Ofcom fees. Three director loans of £1,500 each provide £4,500 in initial funding.

NIDAB reports expressions of interest from multiple prospective programme services for the platform.