The Director of Corporate and Industrial Affairs, Ben Thorlie, has said in Freetown that the National Telecommunications Commission (NATCOM), has reviewed radio frequencies across the country effective 1st July, 2018.
The rationale for the review, he noted, is related to concerns by the International Telecommunications Organization (ITO) and other internal issues relating to interferences between and among radio frequencies in the country’s radio spectrum.
Over the years and due to the nearness of radio frequencies which are amongst 88 to 108, there have been complaints about interference into the frequencies of respective radio stations in the country, he continued.
With a view to address these concerns, NATCOM decided to engage radio station managers of the over fifty radio stations in the country to undertake a review of their frequencies.
Mr.Thorlie noted that this review has received the attention and action of station managers and they should have by now effected the new frequency change effective 1st July, 2019.
The Commission, he added, will take stringent actions if the radio stations fail to comply with the even numbers radio frequencies.
Sierra Leone has over fifty (50) radio stations across the spectrum and there are more applications pending for approval.
Media plurality and accessibility became widespread after the country’s eleven year civil war.
The new National Telecommunications Commission is battling to address the numerous challenges affecting the country’s radio spectrum, electronic and print media as they relate to regulation.