Amid rising sound broadcasting demand, Africa paves the road to more FM stations

*This article has been adapted from opening remarks given at the Optimization of the GE84 (FM Plan) Workshop for Africa for the Second Coordination Group (CG2). Radio is of paramount importance to the whole world, and even more so to developing countries. This has been true since the first transmissions of public radio broadcasting were emitted in 1920. Radio goes where newer technologies cannot. It is an extremely effective way of delivering information in rural and remote areas where information can educate, and even save lives in emergency situations such as the current pandemic. Listeners are tuning into radio stations to receive the latest news and recommendations on how to prevent the spread of COVID-19. As radio is more affordable than other forms of technologies, together with the growth of community radio, information and culture becomes more accessible to all. Where FM radio reigns Many would agree that FM Radio is still reigns as king of the African media industry. It remains a key ICT service delivering immense social-economic value across the continent. Yet, in many countries, the expansion of FM radio is hampered by lack of FM frequencies.

As the use of radio services in Africa grows, an increasing demand for additional frequencies follows.

In response, the ITU Radiocommunication Bureau (BR), in collaboration with the African Telecommunication Union (ATU), launched a project for the optimization of the GE84 Plan for African countries in South Africa in July 2019. The project aims to achieve an efficient and equitable use of the 87.5-108 MHz (FM) band for analogue sound broadcasting and to identify new frequencies to FM broadcasting in 54 African countries. While some countries have commenced national programmes and initiatives to optimize their FM plans, the project aims to take a coordinated continent-wide approach to ensure the Plan generates optimal outcomes. This approach is borrowed from the successful optimization of the GE06 (DTT) Plan which was executed on a coordinated continental approach and resulted in the ‘Second Digital Dividend’ spectrum (the 700MHz band IMT spectrum). GE84 work plan: First milestone achieved

According to the original work plan, the GE84 optimization should have been accomplished via a series of physical multilateral frequency coordination meetings. Such meetings include training the designated experts on the compatibility software developed by BR and adopting the optimization approach with common criteria. However, this original work plan has been changed. Indeed, in view of the global concern about the COVID-19 pandemic and the current restrictions imposed by many countries on meetings and travel, it was decided to start with 3-day online workshops for the four African Coordination Groups. From analogue to digital Optimizing the GE84 Plan intends not only to respond to the increasing demand in analogue sound broadcasting, but also to enable and facilitate the introduction of digital radio in Band II. Looking ahead to 2021, three frequency coordination meetings have been planned to get all African administrations to adopt common technical criteria and conditions for mutual agreements, submit their frequency requirements, run compatibility analyses and mutually coordinate their stations.

Through this project, the hope for FM Radio in Africa remains alive.

We are excited at the possibility of having new usable channels that will allow for its expansion and sustainability. Recognizing the role of ITU My sincere thanks to the ITU Radiocommunication Bureau for developing software tools to assist in the compatibility analysis exercise, in searching for the most suitable frequency channels and in the application of different propagation models in the calculations, including maps, visualizations, and graphic illustrations.

Even though these tools were developed following the launch of GE84 optimization for Africa, they can be used by all countries party to the GE84 Agreement.

ITU has also provided software tools with two ITU-R propagation models, one of which contains terrain data. These tools, available for all countries, can be utilized for more accurate interference analyses in order to facilitate discussions between countries and successfully coordinate their frequencies. Together with ITU, the ATU is firmly committed to support all African countries in this project and beyond, regardless of their size, state of economy and varied needs, paying particular attention to the requirements of the least developed, landlocked and the small island states. Together, we are on the same frequency and share the right energy for Africa’s ICT development journey.

Image credit: Nicholas Githiri via Pexels