The Dutch service of Radio Netherlands is working with the domestic public broadcasting network 3FM to develop a radio service for Dutch troops serving in Afghanistan’s Uruzgan province, and the capital Kabul. The working name of the station is 3NL. A definite start date for the service had not yet been announced, but Peter Veenendaal, Head of Radio Netherlands’ Dutch Service, says that it could be as soon as 1 August. The service will include a special daily programme for the troops, featuring material prepared by Radio Netherlands but presented by staff from 3FM. There will also be two daily broadcasts of Radio Netherlands’ Nieuwslijn programme at 0200 and 1500 UTC. The rest of the time the service will relay the programmes of 3FM. Signals will be fed by satellite and delivered to the troops by a network of low-powered FM transmitters. Currently the Dutch troops in Afghanistan can receive Radio 1 and Radio 538 on FM. The service will be maintained for as long as the troops remain in Afghanistan.
