MuxCo Ltd was created to help operators of smaller radio services and new companies and organisations who have an interest in broadcasting, to participate in DAB digital radio, either as full or part time services.

MuxCo Ltd’s principle objectives are:

• Delivering efficient local multiplex solutions
• Making local DAB more cost efficient for service providers
• Creating economic benefits to shareholders, enabling them to invest in existing and new services
• Helping develop and deliver data services

The shareholders in MuxCo Ltd are Folder Media (75%) and Arqiva (25%). We brought in NGW (since acquired by Arqiva) to provide technical expertise and transmission resource, in order to be able to devise and present efficient and economical transmission solutions to the local MuxCo companies.

A separate ‘local’ MuxCo company is established for each local DAB multiplex area. MuxCo Ltd takes a strategic investment in the relevant consortium, alongside local partners.

In 2006 Ofcom published a working list for areas where it proposed to advertise a local DAB multiplex, and it began to advertise these licences in December 2006 with a licence serving Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire.

The MuxCo network has been awaded licences to provide local DAB services to cover North & Mid Wales, West Wales, Herefordshire & Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, Surrey & North Sussex, Somerset, Lincolnshire and North Yorkshire.

Details of the ‘local’ MuxCo companies and their shareholders can be found at www.muxco.com.