Australia is to boost digital radio reception in several urban black spots, the radio industry body announced on Wednesday.

Commercial Radio Australia said 12 industry-funded DAB+ On Channel Repeaters (OCR) will be added in metropolitan areas over the next few months.

The localised transmitters will boost digital radio coverage in dense urban areas, as well as extending coverage in geographically challenging environments and at the boundaries of the licence areas in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.

The OCR solution has been trialed successfully in Melbourne, resulting in significant enhancement of in-building reception of digital radio services.

In Sydney, sites include Collaroy, Newport, Winmalee, Mt Badgelly, Redfern and in the Sydney CBD.

Mt Mee will host a transmitter to service Brisbane’s northwest, while Perth’s DAB+ coverage will be boosted by repeaters in the Perth CBD and Minderie.

Officials said there was no current need for repeaters in Adelaide as the existing digital radio transmitter is located at Mt Lofty and provides very good coverage.

Commercial Radio Australia chief executive officer, Joan Warner said: “Australia has the most powerful DAB+ digital radio signal in the world and the repeaters will ensure more radio listeners across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth can experience the benefits of digital radio.