 The first national ensemble licence for DAB from the Radio Authority was advertised in 1998 and one applicant applied for the licence . The licence was awarded to the GWR Group and NTL Broadcast , who since the launch were renamed Arqiva . The two companies formed the Digital One ensemble , which began broadcasting on 15 November 1999 . The Digital One ensemble has grown and is currently available to over 90 % of the UK population although an Ofcom report into Digital Radio in 2013 puts robust household coverage at 89 @.@ 5 % of the UK . 
