Slow progress for some on 40m extension

July 11, 2009 by Arvadmin

Despite the band 7.1 to 7.2MHz being made exclusive for the Amateur Service from 29 March 2009 in the ITU Radio Regulations, there are dozens of countries in IARU Regions 1 and 3 are yet to adopt this change in their domestic regulations.

The decision to extend the 40m band was made at the World Radio Conference in 2003 giving shortwave broadcast stations sufficient time to migrate out of the band.

In IARU Region 3 which covers Asia and the Pacific, only Australia, China, Japan Korea and New Zealand report having finalised the band extension for their radio amateurs.

Also in Region 3, India, Sri Lanka and Taiwan are negotiating with their administrations and hope to achieve success this year. Nothing is known about the 30 other countries including Indonesia, Malaysia, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Thailand and Vanuatu.

A similar story of progress is evident in IARU Region 1, with Belarus, France and South Africa being the latest to gain the band extension.

Is the apparent slow progress sending a wrong message to errant broadcasters? While the vast majority of shortwave broadcasting community have left the band, some have not.

Among those persisting is the recently returned Laos National Radio with Cambodian, English, French, Thai and Vietnamese language broadcasts on 7145. Its 10kW transmitter has been heard on the west coast of the USA and also in Europe.

IARU Region 2 that covers the Americas already has access to 7.0 to 7.3MHz.