Hakom - Croatian Post and Electronic Communications Agency

ZAGREB, October 25, 2016 – The experts from the Croatian Regulatory Authority for Network Industries (HAKOM) carried out comprehensive measuring activities of interferences from neighbouring Italy causing the problems appearing on radio and TV channels. The  activities started in June and resulted with new 680 complaints. They were submitted to the Italian administration with a request for their removal. The issue was reported to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), responsible for the implementation of international agreements in the field of electronic communications. The number of interferences and complaints is at the same level as last year and during the past eight years 3900 complaints have been sent to the Italians. The measuring was conducted along the coast and on the islands, from Savudrija in the north to Prevlaka in the south of the Republic of Croatia, where the interferences are strongest. The disturbances problem of Croatian radio and television channels by Italian identified interfering transmitters have been dating for several decades and with the beginning of the transition to digital television in northern Italy and commissioning of a new international non-compliant transmitter in December 2010, the quality of reception of digital television has been further disturbed  in the coastal part of Istria. By further digitization in Italy, by the end of 2010 the disturbances had spread to the rest of the Adriatic coast to Prevlaka and the same level of interferences with minor fluctuations have continued to appear for the  last few years. Radio interferences from Italy, which are very strong, have been creating problems for years and every year the level and number of interferences reaches its peak in the summer months when interference from Italy become even stronger due to favourable conditions for electromagnetic waves thus preventing users from listening Croatian FM radio stations.
 
By means of special measuring programme, HAKOM is making big efforts to remove the existing interferences on television and radio frequencies in the coastal part of Croatia in order to avoid new interferences from Italy. After the measurement and collection of evidence, the interference complaints for transmitters are submitted to the administration of Italy. Contrary to the international regulations they do transmission on the frequencies allocated to Croatia and they should be switched off. HAKOM is not able to issue direct orders to switch it off due to the fact that the transmitters are interfering in another country, outside of HAKOM’s competence.

HAKOM regularly reports the issue on the identified interfering transmitters which causes the interferences to the competent authorities of the ITU, Radio control Board (RRB) and the Director of the Radio communication Bureau (BR asking for help in resolving this issue for Croatia) .By its interventions HAKOM prevented some allocations of new frequencies by the Italian administration, which could additionally maximize the existing interference. After Croatia's accession to the European Union, HAKOM initiated and actively got involved in solving the problem of interferences between Italy and neighbouring countries through the Working Group on Cross-border coordination at the Advisory Group for the RF Spectrum Management Policy at the European Commission. Within the framework of this working group some positive developments were accomplished regarding television but situation with FM radio remains unchanged. As a result of international activities of the Republic of Croatia and HAKOM’s experts Italy adopted three legislative decrees. The decrees amended the TV Frequency Plan by eliminating the frequencies causing interferences with other countries and established a compensation fund ensuring funds for the switching-off of the interfering transmitters and laying down the appropriate switch-off procedures. Unfortunately, the start of the implementation of adopted decrees and measures related to the switch off dates of the interfering submitters such as December 2014 then later April 2015 have been postponed by Italy up to this date and the implementation of adopted measures aimed at reducing the interference with Croatia has not started yet.

This year the deadline to remove the interference was in April 2016. At the last meeting of the Cross-border Coordination Working Group, the Italian administration presented the channel workflow changes through legal regulation and tender which would help to remove interferences by the end of November 2016.

HAKOM regularly informs the competent ministries, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Infrastructure and the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, which have become involved in the resolution of these issues at the diplomatic level as well, about all activities in this area. Numerous promises have been given in the last few years, including deadlines for the elimination of interferences. Agreements and conclusions have also been signed with representatives of the Ministry of Regional Development, the Italian regulatory authority AGCOM and diplomatic representatives but, unfortunately, up to this date, Italy has not eliminated any significant interferences reported by the Republic of Croatia.

ABOUT HAKOM: HAKOM (www.hakom.hr) - Croatian Regulatory Authority for Network Industries – ensures preconditions for a fair market competition, stable growth and environment for innovations in the electronic communications and postal services market. HAKOM protects users’ interests and the possibility of choice among various communications and postal services at affordable prices, defines sustainable competitive conditions for operators and service providers under fair conditions for return on investment, and provides support to economic growth, public services and the quality of life in the Republic of Croatia by using modern technologies. HAKOM’ strategic goals are: to promote regulation of the electronic communications and postal services market, to support growth of investments and innovations in the electronic communications and postal services market, to provide efficient use of limited resources, to accelerate the growth of broadband products and services, to provide affordable offers of communications and postal services, to provide protection and informing of users, to build an efficient and comprehensive information system, to define and implement efficient processes, and to acquire multi-disciplinary competencies in market regulation.