NCA Launches Digital Audio Broadcasting Trial Phase

NCA Launches Digital Audio Broadcasting Trial Phase

By Joseph Nana Yaw Cobbina

At the time, the NCA used the second adjacent channel rule to assign Fm frequencies.By this rule, the frequencies immediately adjacent to an assigned frequency were left vacant to manage interference and only the second adjacent frequency was assigned in the same area.

Speaking at the official launch of Digital Audio Broadcasting(DAB) Mr Joe Anokye stated that by leveraging technology, they embarked on a study to identify the conditions under which they can assign the adjacent channel without interference to existing stations.

Furthermore the established trial stations on adjacent frequencies to test some of the conditions the existing literature indicated will allow for compatibility.They played with transmission system parameters, transmitter locations and took measurements with their spectrum monitoring equipment as well as different radio receivers.

After several months of testing, technology and innovation proved to be the solution indeed. They were able to assign first adjacent channel frequencies if certain conditions could be met, and accordingly they were able to grant new authorisations in all the major cities.

However, frequency is a finite resource.For Fm radio, they only have 87.5 to work with hence, despite all the efforts they have made to satisfy the incessant demand for Fm authorisations, they currently do not have frequencies to assign in some of the major cities.