"Promotion of technological development through a fair allocation of frequencies among market participants is our main task," Mr. Heydar Rustamov, the chief of the State Administration of Radio Frequencies said in an interview.

 

We present that interview:

 

- The State Commission on Radio Frequencies has adopted a decision on simplifying the allocation of radio frequencies. What does this decision promise users and customers?

 

- Primarily, simplification relates to portable radios that are more demanded by the population and mentioned in the majority of applications. Thus, legal and natural persons will apply directly to the State Administration of Radio Frequencies (the SARF) of the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport for the allocation and registration of specific frequency nominals from the frequency band 446,000-446,100 MHz to use analog and digital PMR 446 portable radios. The applications for the registration of the portable radios to be used on these frequencies will be directly submitted the State Administration of Radio Frequencies that is a subordinate entity of the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport. Until now, such applications were addressed to the State Commission on Radio Frequencies. It shall be mentioned that according to the rules, review of applications for these device and appropriate results were made within 2 months.

 

According to the new change, it will be possible to allocate frequency nominals within 3 working days after the applicants submit the required documents to the SARF. 

 

Due to the new changes and simplifications to be realised, the procedures for ensuring the efficient use of frequency resources will be adapted to international standards and regulated in an operative and effective manner. 

 

- Radio frequencies are a limited resource and its regulation is within the competence of the state. This in itself requires a transparent control and regulation mechanism, user satisfaction and simplification of processes. What other measures do you plan to take in this direction?

 

- You are certainly right. Since radio frequencies are a limited resource, only fair and rational allocation of these resources among all market participants can be a locomotive for the development of telecommunication services. I should mention that we have put forward the concept "Clean radio air".

 

Regular and real-time systematic control of the use of radio spectrum, smooth operation of radio electronic facilities (REV) by means of coordination and efficient limitation of unauthorized use, minimization of extraneous broadcasts on the air form the foundation of the concept "Clean radio air". The concept also includes automation, accessibility and simplification of processes. In this regard, studies have been conducted for simplifying the procedure of registration of radio electronic facilities and allocation of frequencies. The problems arisen due to the difficulties, current situation and complexities of the procedures were analysed.

 

At the same time, international experience and solutions applied by countries with advanced technologies were scrutinized, and as a consequence, the implementation of the project "Simplification of the procedures for registration of radio electronic facilities and allocation of radio frequencies" was started.

 

The project consists of two components. The first component is for simplification of the registration of radio electronic facilities and the other one is for simplification of the allocation of radio frequencies.

 

I have already given information about the second component while answering your first question. The implementation of both elements of the project is aimed at getting user satisfaction. Significant works for the project have already fulfilled. Currently, appropriate works are being implemented in relation to the development of a technical platform for simplifying the registration of radio electronic facilities. We believe that it will be possible to take particular steps in the near future.

 

- How does the beginning of the State Commission on Radio Frequencies’ activity after a long break affect the development of this field and the activities of your organisation?

 

- The State Commission on Radio Frequencies has not worked since January 2018. The inactivity of the State Commission within the last 4 years has delayed the implementation of important issues and the approval of documents in this field and left many applications on hold.

 

This, along with causes of justified discontent, created conditions for a certain stagnation of the activity of the SARF and increased cases of unauthorized use of radio frequencies and radio electronic facilities.

 

The State Commission on Radio Frequencies was established by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in May 2021, and the Statute of the State Commission was approved in December of the same year. 

 

Thus, the State Commission, established in a new format and with a new composition began to operate in 2022, and its first meeting was held on January 17 of this year. So far, 3 meetings of the State Commission have been held.

 

A large number of applications related to the allocation of radio frequencies, including those submitted to the previous commission were reviewed at the meetings of the State Commission and appropriate decisions were made in this respect. At the same time, a number of normative regulatory documents, such as the National Frequency Table, the prospective use plan of the Radio Frequency spectrum, frequency band allocation tables destined for the implementation of new mobile (IMT) standard technologies and other documents have been approved.

 

Along with stimulation of the development of new radio technologies and systems in our country, the beginning of the commission’ work and the adoption of important documents stimulate the enhancement of user satisfaction and the efficient organisation of works in the field of allocation, registration and accounting of radio frequencies.

 

- What results do you think steps taken in the field of using radio frequency resources will bring?

 

- Our main task is to promote technological development through efficient use of radio frequency resources and fair allocation of frequencies among market participants.

 

In this regard, the international experience was examined, the decisions and recommendations of international organizations were studied in detail, and a package of proposals was prepared. This package includes measures and projects related to the improvement of the legislative framework in this area, the adoption of a new tariff approach that allows to stimulate the effective use of the radio spectrum, as well as the establishment of an automatic management system in the field of planning, allocation, registration and accounting of the radio spectrum. We believe that the implementation of this package of proposals will ensure a fair, rational and efficient use of radio frequencies, and at the same time will enable the realization of the concept "Clean radio air".

 

- Thank you for answering our questions

 

- Here you are. Thank you.