Radio frequencies are constantly, quietly passing around us, governed by a binding international treaty that makes it possible to use various wireless devices and services with acceptable interference.

In December 2023, ITU’s Telecommunication Development Sector successfully concluded a multi-regional project aimed at assisting countries with limited resources in implementing an advanced spectrum management and monitoring system. The project addressed the challenges faced by these nations in effectively managing their spectrum, providing them with crucial tools such as a computer-aided spectrum management system, spectrum monitoring capabilities, and the deployment of the Spectrum Management Software for Developing Countries, known as SMS4DC.

The project, spearheaded by the ITU with support from the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT), Republic of South Korea, focused on enhancing network infrastructure and management capabilities in countries struggling with resource constraints.

Most recently, ITU trained several countries for SMS4DC including Haiti, Central African Republic (CAR), Libya, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Uganda, and Yemen. One example is the collaboration with the Department of Telecom (DoT) in India, where virtual sessions were organized with core technical team of DoT to evaluate the main requirements of DoT in using SMS4DC for national spectrum management automation.

Following the remote sessions, a physical training was held at the National Institute of Communication Finance (NICF) in New Delhi, India. The weeklong session was arranged in partnership with Wireless Planning Coordinating (WPC) Wing and National Institute of Communication Finance (NICF) of India and served as a pivotal step in familiarizing participants with the functionalities of the SMS4DC tool. The training consisted of 17 sessions involving 16 practical exercises on using ITU SMS4DC tool on practical issues including amongst others; Creation of National Frequency Allocation Table, Frequency Arrangements, Import from BR IFIC database to SMS4DC, Licensing, Frequency Assignments, Engineering functions like coverage calculation and link budget, Satellite Earth Station creation and coordination contour, Interference calculation using SMS4DC and importing calculations to Google Earth.

The positive impact of the training session extends beyond theoretical knowledge. The hands-on approach used in the trainings helped DoT India develop a technical pool of staff who can undertake national spectrum management functions through an electronic platform fully compliant to relevant ITU recommendations and Radio Regulations. The participants – all of whom have a technical background and are already working on national spectrum management – gained valuable insights into the intricacies of the software, ensuring a smooth transition to automated spectrum management processes, allowing for a seamless integration of the spectrum management and monitoring system into the national framework.

By addressing the challenges faced by countries with limited resources, the project contributes to building a more inclusive and interconnected global telecommunications landscape. To date, this project has supported more than 60 countries globally. With advanced spectrum management tools, nations are better positioned to optimize their radio frequency resources, ultimately fostering economic development, innovation, and improved communication networks.

This is an ITU Development #DigitalImpactUnlocked story

About the project

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