Can You Still Get Long-Wave Radio?
What Is Long-Wave Radio — and Where It Was Used
- Longwave radio (LW) refers to radio broadcasts in the low-frequency band (roughly 30 kHz–300 kHz).
- Historically, many countries — especially in Europe, North Africa, parts of Asia — used LW for national public radio, maritime and long-distance coverage, and for broadcasting over very large areas thanks to LW’s ground-wave propagation (which attenuates less over land and can reach far beyond horizon compared to higher-frequency FM/VHF).
Is Long-Wave Radio Still Broadcasting Today?
Yes — but only in a small number of places, and the number of broadcasters worldwide has dropped dramatically.
Where LW still exists (as of 2025)
- In Europe, North Africa and parts of Asia: certain broadcasters in countries such as the UK, Poland, Algeria, Morocco, Romania, Mongolia still maintain LW broadcasts.
- However, many national broadcasters have discontinued LW services. For example: RTE Radio 1 (Ireland) ended its 252 kHz LW service in April 2023.
Decline and closures
- Broadcasters cite decreasing audience numbers, high maintenance costs, aging infrastructure (some LW transmitters rely on old valve-based equipment), and the shift to FM, digital radio (DAB) or streaming.
- In many regions (notably North America), LW broadcasting is basically obsolete — you’re unlikely to find regular LW radio stations; the band is no longer used for public broadcast in many countries.
Can You Receive Long-Wave Radio — What You Need
Even though LW broadcasting is rarer, it is still possible to receive LW — under certain conditions:
- Geographic proximity / propagation path: Since most active LW stations are in Europe, North Africa, or parts of Asia, reception is most feasible in or near those regions.
- Proper receiver and antenna: Many modern consumer radios (especially those built for U.S. market) don’t include LW bands — so you’d need a radio that supports low-frequency tuning (or a dedicated LW receiver).
- Quiet conditions & good antenna setup: LW signals are more detectable with a good antenna, proper grounding, and ideally at times with favorable propagation (e.g. nighttime).
That said, outside of the core LW-broadcasting regions, reception will be very limited or nonexistent.
Why Long-Wave Is Declining — and What That Means
- Digital and FM alternatives dominate: FM, DAB, and streaming give better audio quality, convenience, and broader adoption compared to LW. Many listeners have migrated away from analogue LW.
- Cost & maintenance: LW transmitters and infrastructure are expensive to maintain; energy costs and aging equipment make LW less sustainable especially when listener numbers are tiny.
- Shrinking global coverage: As more broadcasters shut down LW services, the overall usefulness and availability of LW globally shrinks. New installations are extremely rare; existing ones are being phased out.
As a result, long-wave radio is increasingly becoming a heritage or niche medium — still live, but with a role greatly diminished compared to its heyday.
What It Means for Radio Enthusiasts and Suppliers (Like You)
- If you or your customers are outside the small set of regions where LW is still active, don’t expect LW broadcasts. Instead, focus on more commonly used bands (FM, VHF/UHF, digital).
- If you operate in or supply radios to markets where LW remains active (or for niche uses: maritime, remote-area communication, DX radio fans), offering LW-capable receivers or multi-band radios could still be relevant.
- From a business perspective, specializing in LW equipment is increasingly niche — but there may still be demand among hobbyists, expatriates, older audiences, or regions underserved by modern digital infrastructure.
Conclusion — Yes, But Only in Few Places
You can still get long-wave radio — but only in a shrinking number of countries, and only if you have the right receiver and happen to be within reach of the remaining LW transmitters. For most of the world, especially North America and many parts of Asia, LW broadcasting has largely died out. Long-wave is now more of a legacy or specialty medium rather than a mainstay of public radio.
