Radio France will reorganize FM frequencies for franceinfo and France Musique starting July 22, 2026 [1].
This shift marks a strategic move by the public broadcaster to optimize its spectrum and accelerate the transition toward digital DAB+ broadcasting. By altering how its networks occupy the FM band, the organization aims to modernize its infrastructure while managing the decline of traditional analog radio.
As part of the reorganization, franceinfo will give up its historic 105.5 MHz FM frequency [2] in several major cities. The affected locations include Marseille, Toulouse, and Nantes [3]. In these specific markets, the frequency slot previously held by franceinfo will either be transferred to France Musique or eliminated entirely to favor digital-only broadcasting [2], [4].
Not all regions will experience these changes. Radio France said that the FM frequencies in Paris, Lyon, and Nice will remain unchanged [3]. Listeners in those cities will not need to adjust their dials to find their preferred stations.
There are conflicting reports regarding the final status of France Musique in the affected zones. Some reports state France Musique will take over the slots abandoned by franceinfo to maintain an FM presence [2]. Other reports indicate France Musique will leave the FM band entirely in several regions to move exclusively to DAB+ [4], [5].
Radio France said that the transition period will continue through the end of summer 2026 [6] to allow listeners to adapt to the new frequency map. The broadcaster is prioritizing the use of DAB+ to provide a more stable and higher-quality audio experience compared to traditional FM signals [4].
Private radio stations have previously expressed concern over this project, citing potential issues regarding pluralism and advertising competition on the FM band [7]. Despite these objections, the public broadcaster is proceeding with the reorganization to streamline its digital footprint.
“franceinfo will give up its historic 105.5 MHz FM frequency”
This reorganization reflects a broader global trend of public broadcasters migrating from analog FM to digital DAB+ to reduce operational costs and improve signal quality. By sacrificing historic frequencies in secondary cities while maintaining them in primary hubs like Paris, Radio France is implementing a tiered transition that tests digital adoption before a potential full-scale phase-out of FM.
