The Rwanda Utility and Regulations Authority (RURA) has warned the general public against the illegal use of radio frequency and unauthorized importation of communication equipment. To understand the nature of the equipment The New Times’ Alice Kagina caught up with Eurald Gakwandi, the acting Senior Manager in Spectrum Administration, RURA who elaborated on the effects that come along with the use of illegal radio frequency and unauthorized communication equipment. Below are excerpts. What are the most common mistakes made by people involved in the use of illegal radio frequency and unauthorized communication equipment? When a person uses illegal radio frequency is likely and mostly creates interference with other communications operating in the same frequencies. Secondly; when someone imports any communication equipment while unaware that it needs authorization and channel for operation, the imported equipment are withheld at the entry point (border point or airport) until they get importation authorization and a license of operation. This is time consuming and further money is spent for warehousing while it should have been avoided earlier by requesting the appropriate authorization and operating license on time. In additional more losses occur when the imported equipment does not meet the standards and is not allowed to be used in the country. The equipment are exported back to the supplier or leave them at the entry point which is also illegal. Can you share some examples of this kind of equipment? Examples of equipment that need approval include; walkie-talkies, amateur radios, wireless access points working in 2.4 and 5GHz bands, FM radios transmitters, TV transmitters, IT equipment including computers, telecom base stations, telephone handsets, TV handsets, amateur radios, satellite phones, satellite terminals, among others. Is there a given quantity of such imported equipment above which one needs to acquire a license? Even if it is one equipment, or containers; any equipment that uses a communication line must be given importation authorization and it should be acquired before the importation of the equipment. All equipment that use frequencies for communication should first secure a license to operate and those that are exempted should be registered and operate in accordance with existing regulations. How do you monitor such equipment? We have an inspection team and the right instruments that monitor and evaluate communication performance in the country, we have an eye on every frequency that is used in the country. So, when the illegal usage of radio frequency is identified or unauthorized imported equipment, he or she faces administrative fines and that equipment is confiscated until they fulfill the necessary requirements. In addition, Article 277 of ICT Law provides that any person who manufactures, imports or attempts to import, supplies, connects, or allows to remain connected to a telecommunications network, or puts into service any item of electronic communications equipment which does not comply with the technical, safety, marking and other requirements, is liable to an administrative fine. Further, Article 273 of ICT Law provides that any person that uses any part of radio spectrum contrary to the provisions of the Law, is liable to the Administrative fines. What are the effects of using substandard communication equipment? They have a lot of negative effects. For instance, someone may get burnt from using an overheating phone over a period of time because that phone was substandard and does not serve the purpose it was bought for. Secondly, the illegal use of a radio frequency causes interference to other communication services using the same frequencies. Therefore, the Regulatory Authoritys work involves ensuring a safe and interference free communication environment by making sure that every radio frequency transmitted is compliant with frequency assigned and each equipment imported comply with the existing standards in place.
