Digital switch over: Experts discuss frequency management

The inter-ministerial committee for the attribution of radio frequency bandwidths have met in Yaounde in their 8th ordinary session.

The session which is co-chaired by the Minister of Post and Telecommunication, Jean Pierre Biyiti Bi Essame and his counterpart of Communication, Issa Tchiroma Bakary focuses on elaborating a national timetable for the distribution of radiofrequencies amongst different users.

The session also seek ways of resolving problems of frequency interference and the rational management of frequency resources to meet the exigencies of the digital switch over of television broadcast.

The Minister of Post and Telecommunication, Jean Pierre Biyiti Bi Essame told experts at the two day meeting taking place in Yaoundé that a committee is currently rehabilitating the Mbankolo transmission centre responsible for the negative frequency interferences.

Minister Jean Pierre Biyiti Bi Essame noted that the demand for frequency resources has greatly increased with the introduction of a third mobile operator.

Another reason for the boom is the renewal of the licences to operate for the two other telephone service providers with options to obtain 3G options and the allocation of GSM services to Camtel.

Also, air and sea navigation control and security systems including the digital television all use frequency bandwidths thus the need for effective and efficient management of the limited resources.