The UK's popular Asian radio station Sunrise Radio will be available nationally on digital radio next year, it’s been confirmed today.

Media regulator Ofcom awarded the second DAB national commercial multiplex to the 4 Digital Group consortium led by Channel 4. The consortium had proposed to provide ten linear national services including that of Sunrise Radio.

The new digital multiplex will now compete directly with the BBC in areas such as comedy, drama, and current affairs next year. Amongst all, Sunrise Radio which up until now was available in only certain parts of the UK will be able to rival the BBC Asian Network fully on a national scale.

It is not yet known what will happen to Sunrise Radio's local digital multiplexes, we are awaiting a statement from the station about its successful bid today.

Beside Sunrise Radio, Channel 4 will be launching its own radio channels from the E4 and Pure4 brands. Sky News will be launching the radio format of its TV channel.

Commenting on the success of the consortium’s bid, Nathalie Schwarz, who is Chair of 4 Digital Group and also Channel 4’s Director of Radio, said:

"This is a fantastic day for 4 Digital Group and an exciting one for the future of digital radio in the UK. We have worked very hard with all our consortium partners over the last year to reach this point - we will now work together to deliver our commitments and live-up to our vision of securing the future of commercial digital radio in the UK.

"I would like to thank all the organisations and individuals who have contributed over the past 12 months to the development and submission of our application to win the new licence."

The 4 Digital Group said it was committed to launching eight national digital sound programme services and at least nine podcast providers within 12 months, using a network of 174 transmitters which it estimates will provide 'outdoor' coverage of 86.6% of the adult (aged 15+) population of the UK. Two further national digital sound programme services will launch "at the earliest opportunity thereafter, and in any event within the following 11 months".

The licence issued the consortium is for a twelve year period.

Ed Richards, Ofcom Chief Executive, said: "Today’s licence award is an important development for radio listeners who will benefit from a greater variety of commercial national radio services."

He added: "The award will give a real boost to the DAB platform, which we believe will form the cornerstone of radio provision in the future."

The 4 Digital Group faced intense competition from the National Grid Wireless Limited.