RDS-TMC in the UK

This paper describes the UK demonstration of RDS-TMC (radio data service-traffic message channel), gives the background to this service, focusing on the need for commercial market testing rather than a technical trial, and clarifies the differences between TMC and existing RDS services and the future potential of digital audio broadcasting. It also describes the various roles of the public and private sector partners in the demonstration, outlines the service they will provide, and looks at the communications aspects of linking these partners´ systems together to form a complete information chain. Finally, it concludes by outlining the current state of play of the demonstration and then describes the next steps in moving towards fully sustained services.