During the current year the DRDB estimates around two million DAB sets will be sold and, by the end of the year, 13.9% of households will own one or more digital radios. At the end of last year this was 8.4%.
This is a lower figure than the latest one from radio audience measurement body Rajar, which put penetration at 15.3% of households for the second quarter of 2006.
Retailers such as Marks & Spencer and Tesco have had a big impact on DAB sales, in addition to Dixons' decision earlier this year to abandon sales of analogue radios.
There are now more than 300 different DAB radio set models available, and DAB is being extended to devices other than the traditional radio set.
This month Virgin Mobile launched its Lobster handset, which is the first able to receive DAB stations. In addition, combined DAB/MP3 players are on sale and this market is likely to double by Christmas, according to the DRDB.
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