Macra sees initiative doubling FM radios

Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) director general Daud Suleman on Monday said the regulator expects the ongoing frequency modulation (FM) wave refarming initiative to double the number of radio stations.

Briefing journalists in Lilongwe on Monday, he said the exercise is now at an advanced stage and that Macra will soon start issuing recommendations to existing operators for their implementation.

“We are planning to reduce the dividing factor from 400khz to 200khz through which way we are going to accommodate at least 100 new stations per location and surrounding areas,” said Suleman.

The dividing factor is the band width between one frequency channel and the other, he said.

Suleman said another area being worked on is the reduction on the frequency band width which at the moment is at 200khz, thereby accommodating more frequency channels within the same space.

Spectrum Refarming Task Force chairperson Haswel Solomon, who is also Zodiak Broadcasting Station director of engineering and technical services, said there are more benefits expected from the exercise, including improved broadcasting quality and reduced number of transmitters to be managed by radio stations.

He said: “We are also looking at the possibility of spreading the transmitting locations far apart than they are currently located and if this happens it means that radio stations will have reduced number of transmitters to manage and that, generally, means reduced cost.”

Macra says it will engage engineers from regulatory authorities in Tanzania and Kenya to provide technical support for the exercise for better results.

The exercise is expected to be completed by January 2024.