Troops in Northern Ireland are to get their own community radio station, it was announced today.
Based in Lisburn, Co Antrim - home of British army headquarters Northern Ireland and thousands of servicemen and their families - BFBS Lisburn , will go on air in the new year.
Marc Tyley of BFBS Radio
The FM station is one of six community radio licences announced by Ofcom for Northern Ireland and a dozen more across the rest of the UK.
BFBS will specifically target British soldiers, sailors, airmen, officers, their immediate dependants and associated civilians living and working in the Lisburn Community.
Marc Tyley of BFBS Radio said the had been broadcasting on AM "within the wire" of army HQ in Lisburn on a restricted basis for some six years.
"This is great news, it means we can broadcast outside the camp to the community at large and the service personnel and their families living there," he said.
Community radio is a new broadcasting sector being introduced in the UK and will become the third tier to complement the mix of services already provided by the BBC and commercial sector.
The latest announcement brings to 48 the number of licences awarded so far across the UK.
The characteristics of community radio are distinct in that they cover a small geographical area and are provided on a not-for-profit basis focusing on the delivery of specific social benefits.
Two licences have been awarded for Belfast - Féile FM and Raidio Failte.
Feile FM will be an extension of the station currently broadcasting on a restricted service licence for two four week periods over St Patrick's Day in March and the West Belfast Festival in August.
Raidio Fáilte intends to broadcast to the Irish language community in Belfast, including those who can understand Irish or are interested in the Irish language and culture.
Newry, Downpatrick and Banbridge also get their own stations aimed at their local communities - with Shine FM in Banbridge providing a service with a Christian ethos.