The radio technologies previously mentioned are all open standards, which means that equipment from different manufacturers can work together. Digital radio, however, does offer some particular advantages over analog.

Security: One of the most important advantages is security. With digital, encryption can be used without degrading the quality of the audio or the range at which the radio works.

Data: Digital radio technologies make use of IP-based networks. This means that the data capabilities are increasingly flexible.

Spectral efficiency: Digital makes better use of channels than analog, so the utilization, or spectral efficiency, of digital systems tends to be greater than for analog systems.

Clear audio: There is also a better opportunity for reducing background noise in digital, because we can screen the noise and interference out more effectively. This occurs all the way to the edge of coverage – giving clearer audio than analog at greater distances.

These are some powerful advantages of the modern digital standards that have emerged over the last few decades.