Spectrum Management and Monitoring Presented to Training participant, Kunming China Date: 21st April 2018 The Government of The Republic of Vanuatu

Topics About Vanuatu Legal and Management Structure for National Spectrum Management and Monitoring Spectrum Holders and Licensing Structure Spectrum Monitoring Infrastructure Key Interference Issues and Strategies to Resolve Issues Particular Issues Being Faced

1. About Vanuatu Vanuatu is a tropical country and is made up of 83 island-63 islands are inhabited(located in the South West pacific); 250,000 population and covers an area of 860,00 square km Has over 100 languages; Official languages are French, English and Bislama; The country is Divided into 6 Provinces; 75% living in Rural Areas and 25% in Urban Areas;

2. Legal and Management Structure for National Spectrum Management and Monitoring In 2009 the Vanuatu government established a separate and independent legal regulatory body, under the Telecommunications and Radiocommunications Act No 30 of 2009 ACT) called: “Telecommunications and Radiocommunications Regulator (TRR) that provides for a regulatory framework for telecommunications and radiocommunications in Vanuatu. Law that mandates TRR to managed the spectrum are; The ACT; Spectrum fees and Radio Apparatus License Fee regulation Order No. 157 of 2012; Telecommunication License; The Regulator has in place policies and guidelines on band planning for; Fixed services IMT services Mobile services

2. Legal and Management Structure for National Spectrum Management and Monitoring Other TRR Key role facilitate and regulate for fair and sustainable market competition, ensure licensees comply with their licence obligations and are providing quality, affordable and reliable services to the public and, importantly, consumers are safeguarded. TRR must, at all times, act independently and impartially in performing its responsibilities, functions, duties and powers as mandated by the Act and other laws of Vanuatu; and its actions and decisions must be free of political influence. This is a critical ‘must’ for TRR’s credibility, reliability, sustainability, integrity and effective ongoing relationship with all of its stakeholders. Frequency is a scares resources therefore fees are imposed on License to cover the cost of spectrum management, and also taking into account that spectrum as a scare resource to develop telecommunication industry;

3. Spectrum holders and Licensing Structure TRR issues licences authorising a person to: provide telecommunications services operate radiocommunication devices; and use radio spectrum. 3 types of licenses; General User Radio Licence (GURL) Radio Apparatus Licence Spectrum License

3. Spectrum Holders and Licensing Structure 8 Telecommunication Licensees; 2 provide 2.5G, 3G+ and 4G services 4 provide internet services 3 have international gateways 2 provide Fixed network 7 Exception Licenses; Coverage is 98% of population country wide-and is mainly 2.5G and 3G+ 4G services are mainly in 5 locations, that is the 5 main towns of Vanuatu We have roughly 1,000 Radio Apparatus Licensees

4. Spectrum Monitoring infrastructure 1 portable monitoring device (Antrisu Spectrum analyser), No fixed stations and no mobile stations Continually updating the SMS4DC National Spectrum Database with industry spectrum data from the operators; Spectrum Audit and field measurement to be done on yearly basis and to validate spectrum data received from the operators. Moving to QOS/QOE monitoring and benchmarking for mobile networks

5. Key Interference Issues and Strategies to resolve the issues Interference on the IMT 900 MHz band Identified interfered signal coming from a portable Microwave fixed link for a broadcasting station. Resolve by advising the broadcasting station to switch frequencies Interference on Broadcasting FM station Source of Interference from an LED advertisement board. Regulator advise the owner of the LED Advertisement board to switch of the devices while investigation is currently on going on possible resolution to the issue.

6. Particular issues currently being faced Limited funds for spectrum management Major operators are issued with spectrum license fee exception as part of their telecommunication License with a life 15 years. Government is a major use of spectrum and is exempted from fees. NGOs, High Commissions, and Embassy are exempted from fees as well. Lack of resources and skillsets Limited people with radio skillsets. Limited people with testing expertise Lack of tools due to high cost of toolsets (i.e. fixed stations and backend software for analysis) Many of the radio operators are still not identified and are not coming forward to register their stations including Operators in Maritime and Aeronautical services.

Tankyu Tumas