Question NW1757 to the Minister of Communications

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17 September 2020 - NW1757

Profile picture: Mackenzie, Mr C

Mackenzie, Mr C to ask the Minister of Communications

(1) With reference to radio signal interference in the Tygerberg area in the Western Cape, what steps have been taken by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa to address the serious and ongoing signal interference issues on VHF repeaters (details furnished), input frequencies and licence numbers (details furnished); (2) whether any solution has been found to identify the source of the interference in the licensee’s frequencies; if not, (a) what further steps will be taken to protect the licensee’s rights in terms of its licences and (b) by what date will this be done

Reply:

I have been advised by ICASA as follows:

1. The ICASA technical team has responded to the complainant on several occasions and has over an extended period of time tried to resolve the matter. The interference has been intermittent in nature. However, whenever the ICASA team was on site no external interfering signals were observed. Furthermore, the ICASA technical team made a number of suggestions for remedial measures to be implemented by the complainant to mitigate against the interference. The team’s suggestions were not carried out and as such the team could not conclusively find and resolve the fault/s. Around July 2020, at another site visit the ICASA team found an unlicensed system still installed at the complainant’s site. The unlicensed system was removed and there has been no further complaints since.

2. Should the problem persist the ICASA team has recommended a site change given that other measures were not taken by the licensee. A site change would entail the movement of the equipment to another location, the cost implications of which would be borne by the licensee. However, the complainant was not in favour of this proposal.

MS. STELLA NDABENI-ABRAHAMS, MP

MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES

           

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