HAKOM-s experts in the field protecting air space from interferences

ZAGREB, 24 July 2015 – Once again this summer, HAKOM’s experts have been measuring daily interferences with Croatian radio and television channels from the neighbouring Italy. Measuring is carried out along the entire coast and on the islands where the interferences are the strongest. In addition to dealing with interferences from Italy, HAKOM’s experts have also been working on discovering and eliminating interferences reported by maritime and air traffic services. HAKOM reacts immediately to any reported interference and eliminates it as soon as possible. It must be mentioned that HAKOM controls frequency bands used by civil aviation and those used for maritime traffic safety on a daily basis, even if there are no reports by users.  This allows it to discover interferences even before they are reported by certain services. The discovered sources of interferences are located in the territory of the Republic of Croatia and neighbouring countries. When an interference is discovered, an urgent report is sent to their administration. These days HAKOM received replies from Italian and Albanian administrations notifying it that they have eliminated the reported interferences discovered by HAKOM’s experts.
 
Mobile communications operators are also frequently reporting on interferences on their UMTS systems that are becoming more intense in the summer months. With tourist season being in full swing, the use of these systems by tourists has increased so HAKOM’s experts have been eliminating the reported interferences thus fulfilling their legal obligation of ensuring undisturbed operation of operators on purchased frequencies. The protection of the RF spectrum, as a limited natural resource, is of particular interest for the Republic of Croatia. 
 
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. All these years HAKOM has been investing significant efforts into removing the existing interferences on radio and TV frequencies in the coastal area and preventing the occurrence new ones from Italy. Another issue is that the identified interfering transmitters are located in another country and cannot be removed or switched off because they are outside of HAKOM’s competence. 
 
In the past six years alone, on the basis of the discovered interferences, more than 2500 international complaints against interferences have been sent to Italian administration requesting their elimination. The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) has been notified thereof. ITU is responsible for the implementation of international agreements in the area of electronic communications. HAKOM has been regularly notifying ITU’s competent authorities, the Radio Regulations Board (RRB) and the Director of the Radiocommunications Office (BR) about the state of interferences and asking for help in solving this important issue for the Republic of Croatia. Within the framework of the RRB, HAKOM has initiated a dispute resolution mechanism concerning the interferences. In cooperation with broadcasters in the Republic of Croatia and the network operator “Odašiljači i veze”, different technical changes have been introduced into our transmitters in order to enhance their reception capabilities and limit the impact of interfaces. HAKOM has intervened to prevent the allocation of new frequencies by Italian state bodies that would have enhanced the existing interferences. Amendments to the Italian television plan, which was adopted at the end of last year, have also been initiated.
The accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union opened the door for some new opportunities for action. After the accession to the EU, HAKOM started an initiative and became actively involved in the resolution of the issue of interferences between Italy and the neighbouring countries in the working group on cross-border coordination with the European Commission Advisory Group on Frequency Management Policy. This working group has achieved positive results in the area of television but situation with FM remained unaltered. As a result of international activities of the Republic of Croatia and HAKOM’s expert, 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. As soon as Italy starts implementing these decrees, significant reduction of interferences towards Croatia may be expected.
 
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.