Digital Radio in the Republic of Ireland is broadcast on a number of digital terrestrial, cable and internet platforms. Until the 31 March 2021, official broadcasts of the digital audio broadcasting standard were also available in the state by Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ) of their full banquet of radio services. DAB broadcasts since April 2021 are now restricted to unlicensed, low powered multiplexes in a small number of locations. Digital Terrestrial Television All of RTE's digital radio services and the private radio service, Radio Maria Ireland are available on Saorview. Generic DVB receivers generally need mains power, but are typically cheaper than DAB radios. Many portable DAB radio sets have 1/10th to 1/50th of the running time of an AM/FM set, typically giving only 6 hours use. There are also in-dash DVB Terrestrial receivers for cars, though it is illegal for the driver to watch the TV channels. One of the criticisms of digital radio services in Ireland is that they predominately use 128kbps MPEG-1 Audio Layer II audio as a maximum bit rate, replicating the situation found on digital radio in the United Kingdom. Digital Satellite A number of public and private radio services from Ireland are available nationwide on both Saorsat and Sky where 99% of geographic coverage is possible. Internet Radio A number of public and private radio services are available across the state from broadband internet and mobile phone networks receivable on smartphones, Internet radio devices and smart speakers. Digital Audio Broadcasting Digital Audio Broadcasting in Ireland is no longer legally and officially one of the forms of digital radio transmission in the state. Only a small number of unlicensed low powered, small scale DAB multiplexes are running in the state. Areas near the border of Northern Ireland can receive over-spill reception of UK national, Northern Ireland local and small scale multiplexes. DAB was launched to the public on 30 November 2006, with a number of trials taking place in 1998, 2001 and 2006. Before April 2021, 52% of Ireland's population - mainly in Counties Cork, Limerick and the North East - could receive permanent DAB services. Geographic coverage on a portable or car radio was much less. The service began to be marketed in May 2007 by a collective of commercial broadcasters, digitalradio.ie; and receivers to this day are still sold by most major electronics retailers. Since 2010, a number of privately run trial broadcasts