Within the age of latest communication applied sciences and social media, the Worldwide Telecommunications Union (ITU) not too long ago introduced the designation of latest FM frequencies to develop radio’s attain in Africa.
To raised perceive this resolution, and on the event of World Radio Day on 13 February, which is being celebrated underneath the theme “Radio and Belief”, UN Information spoke to the ITU‘s Director of Radiocommunication, Mario Maniewicz, who started by explaining the medium’s significance in Africa.
This interview was performed in French and has been edited and tailored for publication.
Mario Maniewicz: In Africa, Radio broadcasting nonetheless reigns supreme over different types of mass media channels. Radio is a strong medium for celebrating humanity in all its variety and constitutes a platform for democratic discourse. On the international stage, radio stays probably the most extensively consumed medium. This distinctive skill to succeed in out the widest viewers means radio can form a society’s expertise of variety, stand as an area for all voices to talk out, be represented and heard.
In addition to this, radio helps listeners really feel much less remoted and extra related to their group. In instances of emergency and catastrophe, radio broadcasting is likely one of the strongest and efficient methods of delivering early warnings. Well timed, related, and sensible info helps efficient response measures and saves lives. For individuals straight affected, it comes as an important type of humanitarian help. As now we have seen throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, radio has stored individuals related and entertained, ensured continuity in studying, helped combat misinformation, and disseminated important well being info.
The ITU not too long ago introduced the identification of latest FM frequencies for Africa. What’s the significance?
Mario Maniewicz: Over time now we have seen a gentle enhance in demand for high quality radio broadcasting in Africa. This enhance additionally means there may be strain on the obtainable radio frequencies and particularly for FM radio broadcasting. During the last two years, ITU in collaboration with the African Telecommunications Union and radiocommunication consultants have been engaged on a venture to determine new frequencies that will facilitate the enlargement of FM radio broadcasting providers throughout the continent.
We have now been in a position to determine over 18,000 frequency assignments that may now be used for FM Broadcasting in Africa with out inflicting or receiving dangerous interference. The success of this venture helps to safe the long-term sustainability of African radio broadcasting and paves the way in which for the introduction of digital sound broadcasting in Africa.
There have been a whole lot of adjustments within the media panorama in recent times. The place does the ITU assume radio is headed?
Mario Maniewicz: This yr marks 127 years for the reason that first radio transmission was made by Guglielmo Marconi in 1895 on the Isle of Wight, which led finally to the signing of the Worldwide Radiotelegraph Conference in 1906. All through this era, the Worldwide Telecommunication Union (ITU) has performed a central function in advancing the medium worldwide, establishing and updating worldwide rules on using the radio-frequency spectrum and satellite tv for pc orbits. These rules additionally prescribe how radio gear and methods should function to make sure dependable coexistence amongst radio providers of various administrations and to allow probably the most environment friendly utilization of right this moment’s more and more crowded airwaves.
So, radio continues to be going robust and at ITU we are going to proceed to function the steward of worldwide airwaves, guaranteeing we are able to join safely, sustainably, and innovatively for hundreds of years to come back. Accessible and reasonably priced, radio can attain virtually everybody, in every single place. Its loyal listeners embody individuals in huge cities, these in small cities and villages, these in rural communities, and even these in probably the most remoted locations on the planet.
A part of individuals’s belief in radio is because of its low value and ubiquitous nature. Radio stays reasonably priced and could be listened to in every single place, even when electrical energy or web connectivity are usually not dependable. Radio is thereby probably the most fashionable technique of communication, utilized by an awesome majority of individuals. For my part, radio leaves nobody behind.
Do you see conventional radio broadcasting by frequency turning into out of date and someway leaving individuals behind?
Mario Maniewicz: I believe there’ll at all times be a spot for over-the-air radio. Though an increasing number of persons are connecting with different digital platforms, or on-line, there are nonetheless people who find themselves both not related, or they don’t have electrical energy, or they’re in distant locations the place these applied sciences are usually not simply accessible, or they lack the financial means to make use of this different platform.
So, I believe that broadcast radio is at all times going to be fashionable, beginning with the truth that it’s utterly free. It’s the one one among all these platforms that’s utterly free. For the others, you need to pay for connectivity, you need to pay for particular gear, however right here it’s not. So, I believe there’ll at all times be a spot for it, perhaps not in developed nations, or in huge cities, however in growing nations, in rural areas, extra remoted, the place individuals don’t have very excessive requirements of residing, it’ll at all times be probably the most widespread means.
You talked about the belief that individuals have in radio, which is the theme for this yr’s World Radio Day. You additionally mentioned that it’s a platform for democracy. Are you able to come again to this relationship of belief that individuals have in the direction of radio?
Mario Maniewicz: Completely. We’re in a world the place pretend information is unfold in every single place and causes harm to everybody, however the platforms par excellence for this type of factor are social networks. As a result of with social networks, there isn’t any particular person accountability. Individuals can put up what they need with out being liable for what they put up.
Then again, with radio, there may be at all times an individual liable for the radio programme that we’re listening to. So, if that you’re listening to a critical station, that the potential for bouncing round, of latest types and may be very low, or nil, or non-existent. In order that’s why I believe that broadcast radio is extra dependable for individuals than different on-line platforms.
I discussed democracy as a result of, usually, radio stations give house to everybody to precise themselves, to all political colors and to all actors of the group. So, it’s a common instrument to speak and to precise themselves to the remainder of the inhabitants…I believe the distinction is that radio is extra clear.
Thanks very a lot Mr. Maniewicz. Do you could have a remaining message on World Radio Day?
Mario Maniewicz: Nicely, my message is exactly to reap the benefits of this implies, of this medium, which is the common medium par excellence and to defend this implies, this medium. As a result of it’s at all times underneath assault by new applied sciences. Not as a result of they compete — that’s not an issue — however as a result of the provision of radio waves for radio is being more and more contested by different providers.
So, I believe it’s important for governments and regulators in nations to defend the airwaves which are assigned to radio broadcasting, both analogue or digital. And it’s exactly by going to digital radio that we save spectrum and due to this fact we are able to unencumber extra spectrum with out killing radio.