HAKOM's experts are conducting large-scale measuring of radio and television interferences
PRESS RELEASE
HAKOM is conducting measuring along our Adriatic coast and on the islands where interferences are most frequent. In addition to interferences from Italy, HAKOM's experts work on detecting and eliminating other interferences as well, in particular those affecting the services for the protection of safety of human lives on the land, at sea, in the air and on inland waterways. The protection of the RF spectrum, as a limited national natural resurce, is of particular interests for the Republic of Croatia and in the last 7 years HAKOM has filed more than 3200 international interference complaints to the Italian administration.
Zagreb, 15 July 2016 HAKOM's experts have once again, this summer, launched large-scale measuring and notification campaign of interferences from Italy that are causing problems with the reception of radio and television channels. Measuring is conducted along our entire Adriatic coast and on the islands, from Savudria on the north to Prevlaka on the south of the Republic of Croatia, which recorded the greatest interferences. The problem of interference of Italian, internationally uncoordinated, transmitters with Croatian radio and television channels has existed for several decades. The digital switchover in Northern Italy and the beginning of operation of new internationally uncoordinated transmitters in December of 2010 contributed to additional deterioration of reception of digital television in the coastal part of Istria. Following further digitalization in Italy, by the end of 2012 interferences spread to the rest of the Croatian coast up to Prevlaka, and the same level of interferences, with slight oscillations, has continued in the recent years. Serious problems are caused by radio interferences from Italy as well which become even stronger in the summer months when the level and number of interferences peak because of favourable conditions for the transmission of electromagnetic waves. This significantly interferes with the possibility of reception of Croatian FM radio stations.
During all these years, and in particular in the last seven years, HAKOM has invested significant efforts through its special programme of measuring activities to eliminate the existing interferences with radio and television frequencies and to avoid new interferences from Italy. Every year, when it completes its measuring activities, HAKOM notifies the Italian administration of the interferences from transmitters that, contrary to international regulations, transmit at frequencies allocated to the Republic of Croatia and that must be turned off. However, HAKOM cannot issue an order for the turning off of those transmitters since they are located in another country and therefore, are not under HAKOM's competence.
In the last seven years more than 3200 international interference complaints have been submitted to the Italian administration on the basis of the established interferences together with the request for their elimination. The International Telecommunications Union (ITU), which is responsible for the implementation of international agreements in the electronic communications sector, has also been notified thereof. HAKOM has regularly notified ITU, Radio Regulations Board (RBB) and the Director of the Radiocommunications Bureau (BR) on the state of interferences and requested for assistance with the resolution of this important issue for the Republic of Croatia. In cooperation with the broadcasters in the Republic of Croatia and the network operator, the company "Odašiljači i veze", many attempts have been made to improve the reception and reduce the impact of interferences. HAKOM's interventions have prevented the allocation of new frequencies by the Italian administration that would additionally worsen the existing interferences.
After the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union HAKOM launched an initiative and became actively involved in the resolution of the problem of interferences between Italy and its neighbouring countries within the framework of the Working group on Cross-border Coordination with the European Commission Radio Spectrum Advisory Group. The mentioned working group has achieved positive results in the area of television but the situation concerning FM radio remained unchanged. As a result of international activities of the Republic of Croatia and HAKOM's experts, Italy has adopted regulations and a law amending the TV frequency plan and excluding frequencies interfering with neighbouring countries. It has also established a compensation fund and laid down a procedure for the turning off of interfering transmitters. The adopted plan should have started achieving results at the end of 2015 when Italian transmitters causing interferences should have been turned off. The Italian administration unilaterally postponed the deadlines for the elimination of interferences until the end of April of 2016, and we can confirm that, at the beginning of the measuring activity, the Italian side has not made significant progress with the elimination of interferences. Interferences in the Adriatic region are still very strong and prevent the reception of Croatian channels along the cost.
HAKOM notified the competent ministries about all of its activities in this area, in particular the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Infrastructure and the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, which became involved in the resolution of this problem at the diplomatic level. In the last few years many promises have been made and deadlines have been agreed for the elimination of interferences. Many agreements and conclusions have been signed between the Ministry of Regional Development, the Italian regulatory authority AGCOM and the diplomatic representatives, but, unfortunately, to this date Italy has not removed any significant interferences.
In addition to interferences from Italy, HAKOM's experts have also worked on detecting and eliminating interferences reported by services for maritime and air traffic safety which, together with other services used for the protection of human lives on land, at sea, in the air and in internal waters, have priority in the elimination of interferences. HAKOM reacts to every notified interference without delay and eliminates it with the utmost urgency. HAKOM also controls the spectrum on a daily basis thus eliminating interferences even before they are notified by the users. Depending on the location of the source of interference, interferences located on the territory of the Republic of Croatia are eliminated by HAKOM and those originating from neighbouring countries are notified to the competent administration with the request for their urgent removal.
Interferences in mobile communications networks, GMS, UMTS and LTE systems, also occasionally appear and increase during the summer months. With the tourist season in full swing, these systems have been increasingly used by tourists and HAKOM's experts eliminate all reported interferences without delay. Since the 790-862 MHz band is no longer used by television but by broadband mobile communications networks instead, the LTE system might cause interferences with TV reception by users due to receivers adjusted for reception in the entire 470-862 MHz band. Due to increased operation of LTE base stations in the 800 MHz band, the number of reported interferences has increased. HAKOM has been cooperating with the network operator and mobile communications operators to establish the cause of interferences and to find the appropriate solution for their elimination. In order to facilitate the reporting and elimination of interferences and to avoid the possible costs arising from the need to adjust the equipment, HAKOM, in justified cases, envisaged funds for the financing of procurement and installation of filters for the elimination of interferences experienced by end users due to old TVs.
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For additional information please contact:
Croatian Regulatory Authority for Network Industries (HAKOM)
Roberta Frangeša Mihanovića 9
10110 Zagreb, Croatia
Tel. + 385 (0) 1 700 70 07
Fax + 385 (0)1 700 70 70
Media inquiries can be submitted online using HAKOM’s official website: https://www.hakom.hr/
Registration required.
Zagreb, 15 July 2016 HAKOM's experts have once again, this summer, launched large-scale measuring and notification campaign of interferences from Italy that are causing problems with the reception of radio and television channels. Measuring is conducted along our entire Adriatic coast and on the islands, from Savudria on the north to Prevlaka on the south of the Republic of Croatia, which recorded the greatest interferences. The problem of interference of Italian, internationally uncoordinated, transmitters with Croatian radio and television channels has existed for several decades. The digital switchover in Northern Italy and the beginning of operation of new internationally uncoordinated transmitters in December of 2010 contributed to additional deterioration of reception of digital television in the coastal part of Istria. Following further digitalization in Italy, by the end of 2012 interferences spread to the rest of the Croatian coast up to Prevlaka, and the same level of interferences, with slight oscillations, has continued in the recent years. Serious problems are caused by radio interferences from Italy as well which become even stronger in the summer months when the level and number of interferences peak because of favourable conditions for the transmission of electromagnetic waves. This significantly interferes with the possibility of reception of Croatian FM radio stations.
During all these years, and in particular in the last seven years, HAKOM has invested significant efforts through its special programme of measuring activities to eliminate the existing interferences with radio and television frequencies and to avoid new interferences from Italy. Every year, when it completes its measuring activities, HAKOM notifies the Italian administration of the interferences from transmitters that, contrary to international regulations, transmit at frequencies allocated to the Republic of Croatia and that must be turned off. However, HAKOM cannot issue an order for the turning off of those transmitters since they are located in another country and therefore, are not under HAKOM's competence.
In the last seven years more than 3200 international interference complaints have been submitted to the Italian administration on the basis of the established interferences together with the request for their elimination. The International Telecommunications Union (ITU), which is responsible for the implementation of international agreements in the electronic communications sector, has also been notified thereof. HAKOM has regularly notified ITU, Radio Regulations Board (RBB) and the Director of the Radiocommunications Bureau (BR) on the state of interferences and requested for assistance with the resolution of this important issue for the Republic of Croatia. In cooperation with the broadcasters in the Republic of Croatia and the network operator, the company "Odašiljači i veze", many attempts have been made to improve the reception and reduce the impact of interferences. HAKOM's interventions have prevented the allocation of new frequencies by the Italian administration that would additionally worsen the existing interferences.
After the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union HAKOM launched an initiative and became actively involved in the resolution of the problem of interferences between Italy and its neighbouring countries within the framework of the Working group on Cross-border Coordination with the European Commission Radio Spectrum Advisory Group. The mentioned working group has achieved positive results in the area of television but the situation concerning FM radio remained unchanged. As a result of international activities of the Republic of Croatia and HAKOM's experts, Italy has adopted regulations and a law amending the TV frequency plan and excluding frequencies interfering with neighbouring countries. It has also established a compensation fund and laid down a procedure for the turning off of interfering transmitters. The adopted plan should have started achieving results at the end of 2015 when Italian transmitters causing interferences should have been turned off. The Italian administration unilaterally postponed the deadlines for the elimination of interferences until the end of April of 2016, and we can confirm that, at the beginning of the measuring activity, the Italian side has not made significant progress with the elimination of interferences. Interferences in the Adriatic region are still very strong and prevent the reception of Croatian channels along the cost.
HAKOM notified the competent ministries about all of its activities in this area, in particular the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Infrastructure and the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, which became involved in the resolution of this problem at the diplomatic level. In the last few years many promises have been made and deadlines have been agreed for the elimination of interferences. Many agreements and conclusions have been signed between the Ministry of Regional Development, the Italian regulatory authority AGCOM and the diplomatic representatives, but, unfortunately, to this date Italy has not removed any significant interferences.
In addition to interferences from Italy, HAKOM's experts have also worked on detecting and eliminating interferences reported by services for maritime and air traffic safety which, together with other services used for the protection of human lives on land, at sea, in the air and in internal waters, have priority in the elimination of interferences. HAKOM reacts to every notified interference without delay and eliminates it with the utmost urgency. HAKOM also controls the spectrum on a daily basis thus eliminating interferences even before they are notified by the users. Depending on the location of the source of interference, interferences located on the territory of the Republic of Croatia are eliminated by HAKOM and those originating from neighbouring countries are notified to the competent administration with the request for their urgent removal.
Interferences in mobile communications networks, GMS, UMTS and LTE systems, also occasionally appear and increase during the summer months. With the tourist season in full swing, these systems have been increasingly used by tourists and HAKOM's experts eliminate all reported interferences without delay. Since the 790-862 MHz band is no longer used by television but by broadband mobile communications networks instead, the LTE system might cause interferences with TV reception by users due to receivers adjusted for reception in the entire 470-862 MHz band. Due to increased operation of LTE base stations in the 800 MHz band, the number of reported interferences has increased. HAKOM has been cooperating with the network operator and mobile communications operators to establish the cause of interferences and to find the appropriate solution for their elimination. In order to facilitate the reporting and elimination of interferences and to avoid the possible costs arising from the need to adjust the equipment, HAKOM, in justified cases, envisaged funds for the financing of procurement and installation of filters for the elimination of interferences experienced by end users due to old TVs.
# # #
For additional information please contact:
Croatian Regulatory Authority for Network Industries (HAKOM)
Roberta Frangeša Mihanovića 9
10110 Zagreb, Croatia
Tel. + 385 (0) 1 700 70 07
Fax + 385 (0)1 700 70 70
Media inquiries can be submitted online using HAKOM’s official website: https://www.hakom.hr/
Registration required.
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.