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High Peak's Digital Radio Lifeline Saved - Maxxwave Steps In to Keep DAB on Air

The High Peak's small-scale DAB radio multiplex was at risk of going dark due to financial pressures. Now Maxxwave has stepped in with plans to expand coverage across Glossop, Buxton and beyond.

For many residents in the more remote parts of the High Peak, digital radio has always been a challenge. Mountainous terrain, multiple transmission sites and the economics of serving a sparsely populated rural area have made the High Peak one of the most difficult places in England to deliver reliable DAB coverage. Now, a new operator has stepped in to ensure the service survives, and potentially thrives.
 
Maxxwave has taken over the High Peak small-scale DAB multiplex from High Peak One Digital Ltd, which had been struggling under financial pressure. The multiplex, which broadcasts from transmitters in Buxton, Chapel-en-le-Frith and surrounding areas, carries a range of local and specialist radio stations that would otherwise be unavailable to listeners in the area.
 
Samuel Hunt, Director of Maxxwave Ltd, said: "With Radio 4 long wave now confirmed to be closing, some parts of the Peak District are about to lose their only reliable radio service. These are the areas that we are keen to expand to and help. The Peak District receives 13 million visitors a year, yet it's been left behind by digital radio. We're determined to change that."
 
The timing is significant. The BBC has confirmed that Radio 4's long wave service which has long provided a reliable signal in areas where FM and DAB struggle, will close later this year. For some of the High Peak's most isolated communities, that closure will leave a real gap. Maxxwave's plans to use additional low-power transmitters to strengthen coverage in key towns could not come at a better moment.
 
Craig Pattison from High Peak One Digital, who originally won the licence in round two of the small-scale DAB rollout, added: "It's been a privilege to offer extra DAB services across the High Peak. Maxxwave will now take this to a whole new level with new services already appearing on the multiplex."
 
For High Peak listeners, this is good news. The multiplex is on air, new stations are being added, and there are genuine plans to improve coverage in areas that have long been underserved.

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The Peak Press

© 2026 The Peak Press.

The Peak Press is your friendly, go-to guide for life in The High Peak, charting a course through the heart of the community. Each issue is packed with a mix of essential local news, can't-miss events, hidden gems discovered off the beaten path, and celebratory neighborly shoutouts. It's a weekly celebration of the people and places that make this corner of the Peak District so special.

© 2026 The Peak Press.