Ofcom this morning proposed to free more of the country’s airwaves to ensure the growth of digital radio stations.

In the first stage of a major review of commercial radio, the watchdog said that digital radio offered ’significant benefits to both broadcasters and listeners’, including broader choice, better services and a much clearer signal.

Ofcom therefore recommended that three more blocks of spectrum in the VHF Band III should be freed up to guarantee that local digital radio stations are available in all parts of the UK.

The regulator added that it would seek the views of industry and public to assess whether further spectrum licences should be allocated to national digital radio stations.

Ofcom is also seeking views on the allocation of 10 medium wave frequencies for new community radio or local/regional commercial services.

The second phase of the review, slated for publication in spring 2005, will aim to reach conclusions on the broad proposals outlined this morning, said Ofcom.