Spectrum Management,

Zoning and Broadcast

Regulation
Radio Spectrum
Comprises a range of frequencies typical from 10KHz up to 3000GHz.
Spectrum is divided into frequency bands, which are then allocated
to certain services.
In Tanzania, spectrum allocation and regulation is administered by
TCRA
https://www.tcra.go.tz/uploads/text-editor/files/Tanzania%20Radio%
20Frequency%20Spectrum%20Allocation%20Chart_1621418986.pdf
Radio Spectrum
A scarce but renewable public resource
Can not be confined within national borders
Used and managed through international treaties and national
policies.
ITU, works close with government agencies to allocate specific bands
to certain services on a global or regional basis. This helps to limit
international interference as well as reduce the cost of mobile phones
because it encourages nations to adopt compatible approaches that
drive economies of scale.
Radio Spectrum
 Uses of radio spectrum include
o radio & television AM, FM, TV
o microwave & satellite
o mobile radio: taxi, courier, trucking, cellular, paging
o safety services: air traffic control, police, fire, ambulance, marine
o Manufacturing: arc welders, plastic sealers, gluing machines
o energy: pipeline control, security
o Health: heart monitors
o consumer devices: cordless telephones, garage door openers, microwave
ovens
Regulating Radio Spectrum
At the broadest level, spectrum is regulated in two ways, it is either
managed through a spectrum license or it is license exempt (i.e.
unlicensed).
Unlicensed Spectrum
o Limited applications and are designated for a certain specific type of use
o No need for license from regulatory authority
o Device must meet a certain technical standards in order to minimize
interference.
o Examples: Wi-Fi, X-ray machines, TV Remote Control, Microwave Ovens, Car
key fobs, and Cordless Phones
Regulating Radio Spectrum
Licensed Spectrum
o Frequency bands comprised of range of technologies that operate with
enough power to allow the services to cover a relatively wide area
o National regulators control access to this spectrum through a licensing
framework
o License holders includes commercial (TV & Radio broadcasters, Mobile
operators) and non-commercial organizations (emergency services and
military)
o Exclusive rights are given to a particular entity over acquired spectrum
(Service Level Agreement)
Spectrum Management
There are several variables one must consider when managing the
spectrum resource
o Political issues, both national and international
o Economic impacts
o Technical considerations
Spectrum Management
 Political Issues
o Access to global and national spectrum resources;
o International cooperation;
o Sovereignty
o Culture and national identity
o National economic wellbeing
o The state of national technological Development
Spectrum as a Global Resource
The radio frequency spectrum is freely available to whomever wants
to use it.
But when one service uses an available portion of the spectrum it is
no longer available for other services without mutual interference.
Eventually, as users demand access, the scarce resource will be fully
used.
The demand for access to the spectrum resource will inevitably
increase as society moves through the “information age”, creating a
need for ever more “Information Bandwidth.”
Spectrum Management
National level
o Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority Act, No.12 of 2003, includes a
direct mandate for TCRA to manage radio spectrum and act appropriately in
order to ensure efficient use of this resource.
o TCRA continuously analyses the radio frequency spectrum requirements for
existing and planned radio services in the United Republic of Tanzania.
o Efficiently regulate access to radio spectrum on a national and international
level in a coordinated manner
o Therefore, any International decisions regarding spectrum usage it plays a
part in national spectrum management.
Spectrum Management
 International level
o TCRA represents the United Republic of Tanzania in regional and international
bodies dealing with the spectrum management, where it safeguards national
interests in order to promote them on an international (regional and global)
level.
o Radio signals propagate across international borders, cross-border
agreements regarding spectrum use become vital both between neighboring
countries and between economic interest blocks on a global scale.
o The use of all spectrum resources is being harmonized at the international
level at the ITU World Radio communication Conferences in order to ensure
efficient and interference-free use of radio spectrum
Spectrum Management
o The Radio Sector of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU-R)
allocates worldwide radio spectrum to various radio services in accordance
with the Radio Regulations (RR).
o The RR is an international agreement, which regulates the use of radio
spectrum resources for all radio applications, as well as the orbital positions
of geostationary and non-geostationary satellites.
o This agreement is binding to ITU member states. The RR articles are revised as
a result of the resolutions of the World Radio communication Conferences
(WRC) to adapt the existing framework to ever changing radio spectrum
requirements in order to refine the requirements of existing applications or
facilitate the introduction of new ones.
Spectrum Zoning
Based on ITU Radio Regulations framework, the world is divided into
three regions mainly for reasons of administrative, rationality and is
largely based on the historical commonalities in the usage of the radio
spectrum in the regions.
o Region 1: Europe, Africa, the Middle East west of the Persian Gulf including
Iraq, the former Soviet Union and Mongolia
o Region 2: Americas, Greenland and some of the eastern Pacific Islands
o Region 3: Asia, east of and including Iran, and most of Oceania
Spectrum Zoning
The United Republic of Tanzania is in Region 1.
The following bands are identified for use by high-density
applications in the fixed-satellite service:
o 17.3-17.7 GHz (space-to-Earth) in Region 1,
o 19.7-20.2 GHz (space-to-Earth) in all Regions,
o 39.5-40 GHz (space-to-Earth) in Region 1,
o 40-40.5 GHz (space-to-Earth) in all Regions,
o 47.5-47.9 GHz (space-to-Earth) in Region 1,
o 48.2-48.54 GHz (space-to-Earth) in Region 1,
o 49.44-50.2 GHz (space-to-Earth) in Region 1,
Broadcast Regulations
In Tanzania mainland, radio and television broadcasting are governed
by The Electronic and Postal Communication Act (Cap.306)-2018
 Conditions for granting radio frequency spectrum
o Radio frequency spectrum may be assigned for mobile or fixed wireless
access, networks, private business radio, fixed links and broadcasting stations
depending on availability of radio frequency spectrum
o A licensee assigned radio frequency spectrum by the Authority shall keep up-
to-date records of radio communications equipment and corresponding
network elements in a format approved by the Authority.
Broadcast Regulations
o A person shall not intercept or acquaint himself with the contents of any radio
communications other than those transmitted for general information or for
the information of licensees belonging to the same licensed network
o A person shall not operate or use any station or wireless network for or in
furtherance of any unlawful action or purposes
o A person shall not test or carry out practical transmission in circumstances
that may cause interference with any other station or network.
o A licensee shall ensure that a station or wireless network is operated in a
manner which is safe and which does not impair or interfere with:
(a) communication system of any armed forces; or
(b) (b) the efficient and convenient working or maintenance of any other station or
network or telecommunication system or service licensed by the Authority.
Broadcast Regulations
o Any authorized officer may enter into any premises, vehicle, vessel or aircraft where a
station or wireless network is installed, or is being installed and may inspect, examine
a wireless network equipment.
o A licensee shall comply with the provisions of International Telecommunications
Convention and any Regulations annexed thereto which the United Republic has
ratified.
o The Authority may, where it considers appropriate and in the interest of the radio
frequency spectrum economy, charge for frequency usage after taking into
consideration:
o (a) the re-usability of the frequency;
o (b) the area of coverage involved; and
o (c) the period of use of the assigned frequency.
o (2) Multi-channel radio communications equipment used for transmitting or receiving signals in the
radio communication network shall be in accordance with the bandwidth of frequencies assigned.
Broadcast Regulations
Part IV (INTERFERENCE WITH ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS
EQUIPMENT, STATION NETWORK AND SYSTEMS )
o An owner, a licensee or a user of electrical, electronic or radio communication
equipment who causes or suspected to have caused interference or
disturbance to electronic communications equipment, stations, networks or
systems shall permit an authorized officer to inspect his equipment in order
to determine whether the interference is caused by his equipment.
o Where the Authority determines that interference or disturbance to
electronic communications equipment, stations, networks or systems is
caused by any particular electrical, electronic or radio communications
equipment, it shall by notice in writing, direct the owner, licensee or user of
that electrical, electronic or radio communications equipment to do, at his
own expense, any one or more of the following-
Broadcast Regulations
o (a) take suitable measures to eliminate or reduce the interference disturbance; or
o (b) remedy a fault or the improper operation of the equipment;
o (c) modify or alter the equipment installation; or
o (d) disconnect the equipment.
o Any person who contravenes any provision of these Regulations commits an
offence and shall be liable, on conviction, to a fine of not less than five million
shillings or to imprisonment for a term not less than twelve months or to
both.
Spectrum Policy and Principles (Kenya)
Kenya is in ITU Region 1 and the Communications Authority of Kenya
(CA) is the lead Agency in representing the Government of Kenya at
the ITU.
Spectrum policy is articulated in National ICT Policy (2019). https://
www.ict.go.ke/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/NATIONAL-ICT-POLICY-2
019.pdf
Objectives of spectrum policy includes:
o Ensure sufficient amount and equitable allocation of Radio Frequency
Spectrum to users to enable delivery of the greatest socio-economic impact
and meet demand for ICT services
Objectives of spectrum policy (Kenya)
o Increasing the availability, penetration and use of ICT services: ICTs have
become predominantly dependent on wireless technologies which in turn
rely solely on radio frequency spectrum,
o Minimize interferences nationally and internationally: Radio frequency
spectrum should be availed clean and free from harmful interference,
o To maximize its use, both from an economic, technological and social
perspective,
o Providing a level playing field for competition in allocating spectrum
Spectrum Management in Kenya (Principles,
Licensing and Control)
To ensure efficient and effective spectrum management , CA is adopt
the following principles:
o Dynamic and Responsive management to meet user needs (equitable,
transparent, efficient, cost effective, sustainable, take into account the needs
of consumers of services that rely on spectrum, take into account
international treaties on spectrum usage)
o Access to Radio Frequency Spectrum Resources Should be Simple, Fair and
Timely
o Planning, licensing, allocation, assignment and compliance measures should
aim to minimize the total cost of achieving the objectives of Radio Frequency
Spectrum management, including the cost to government, licensees and the
public
Principles Cont…………………….
o Public Consultations and Transparency
o Allow stakeholders to provide inputs to ensure that the radio frequency spectrum
management process is more responsive to technological advances and user demands,
o Assignment of spectrum should be subjected to public consultations and participation
o Exemption from Payment of Spectrum License and Usage Fees
o National security, public safety and emergency services may be exempted by the
Regulator from paying the requisite spectrum license and usage fees
o Prioritization of Deployment of Services in Rural Areas
o consider discounting incentives, based on the provisions of the universal service and
access, through fee-exempt spectrum resources in rural and unserved/underserved
areas, to encourage operators to deploy services in these areas.
Licensing and Control
 Radio spectrum licensing and control is covered by Kenya Information
and Communication Act (Chapter 411A)
The Authority (CA) is responsible for assigning radio frequency spectrum
based on the provisions of the allotments and allocations in the National
Table of Frequency Allocations (TOFA).
 License granting, amending, renewing, suspending and revoking is
under the jurisdiction of CA.
Licensees will be required to pay requisite frequency fees prescribed by
the CA as and when they fall due. Failure to which will result in penalties
or other actions as stipulated in the authorization instrument (the
license), the Act and the Regulations.
Spectrum Policy and Principles (Uganda)
The spectrum in Uganda is managed by the regulator, Uganda
Communications Commission (UCC).
In 2009, UCC issued Radio spectrum policy guidelines to guide the
public on the use of the resource in a proper manner
Policy Vision “A Digitally Empowered and informed society through
Efficient Use of Radio Spectrum”
Policy Mission “To ensure that spectrum is utilized efficiently,
economically, rationally and optimally and allocated transparently”
Spectrum Policy and Principles (Uganda)
 The following key principles are used to guide the management and
licensing policy of radio spectrum
o Efficient, economic, rational and optimal use of spectrum (review of NFAC,
promote use of white spaces, permit spectrum sharing , etc)
o Transparent process for spectrum allocation
o Evaluate various spectrum pricing methods and adopt appropriate methodology
for pricing and allotment of bands transparently to ensure that the objectives of
the policies are met,
o Harmonize spectrum monitoring and management practices
o Conduct periodic audit of spectrum utilized by the service providers
o Real time monitoring the quality of service offered, the spectral efficiency, the traffic carried
and the number of subscribers served
o Periodic review of spectrum use
 Useful documents
o Guidelines on Access and Use of Radio Frequency Spectrum on a Temporary Basis (
https://www.ucc.co.ug/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/2A.-Guidelines-on-Temp-Sp
ectrum-Auth_AC_20230621.pdf
)
o Guidelines on Access and Use of the Lower Part of 6 GHz (5925~6425 MHz) Band
in Uganda (
https://www.ucc.co.ug/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Guideline-on-the-Access-an
d-Utilisation-of-the-Lower-6GHz-band-in-Uganda.pdf
)
o Table of Frequency Allocation in Uganda (
https://www.ucc.co.ug/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/UGANDA-TABLE-of-FREQUE
NCY-ALLOCATION_NTFA_2020.pdf
)
o National Spectrum Policy (Revised Version) https://
www.ict.go.ug/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Spectrum-Policy-revised-011117.pdf
o Framework for Spectrum Assignment to Telecommunications Services in Uganda (
https://www.ucc.co.ug/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Framework-for-spectru-assi
gnment-in-Uganda-20191.pdf
)