Electronic Communications Act, 2005 (Act No. 36 of 2005)

The following methods are proposed for assessment of anticipated interference inside neighbouring countries based on established trigger values. Due to the complexity of radio-wave propagation, different methods are proposed to be considered by administrations and are included here for guidance purposes only. It should be noted that the following methods provide theoretical predictions based on available terrain knowledge. It is practically impossible to recreate these methods with measurement procedures in the field. Therefore, only some approximation of measurements could be used to check compliance with those methods based on practical measurement procedures. The details of such approximations are not included in this recommendation and should be negotiated between countries based on their radio monitoring practices.

Path specific model

Where appropriately detailed terrain data is available, the propagation model for interference field strength prediction is the latest version of ITU-R Rec. P.452 10. For the relevant transmitting terminal, predictions of path loss would be made at x km steps along radials of y km at z degree intervals11. The values for those receiver locations within the neighbouring country would be used to construct a histogram of path loss – and if more than 10% of predicted values exceed the threshold, the station should be coordinated.

Site General model

If it is not desirable to utilise detailed terrain height data for propagation modelling in the border area, the basic model to be used to trigger coordination between administrations and to decide if coordination is necessary, is ITU-R Rec. P.1546, “Method for point to area predictions for terrestrial services in the frequency range 30 to 3000 MHz” Error! Bookmark not defined". This model is to be employed for 50% locations, 10% time and using a receiver height of 3 m. For specific reception areas where terrain roughness adjustments for improved accuracy of field strength prediction are needed, administrations may use correction factors according to terrain irregularity and/or an averaged value of the TCA parameter in order to describe the roughness of the area on and around the coordination line.

Administrations and/or operators concerned may agree to deviate from the aforementioned model by mutual consent.

Area calculations

In the case where greater accuracy is required, administrations and operators may use the area calculation below. For calculations, all the pixels of a given geographical area to be agreed between the Administrations concerned in a neighbouring country are taken into consideration. For the relevant base station, predictions of path loss should be made for all the pixels of a given geographical area from a base station and at a receiver antenna height of 3 m above ground.

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10Recommendation ITU-R P.452-17 (09/2021, with Editorial corrections on 28 October 2021) “Prediction procedure for the evaluation of interference between stations on the surface of the Earth at frequencies above about 0.1 GHz” (https://www.itu.int/rec/R-REC-P.452/en).

11Values for x, y, z, and path specific field strength levels are to be agreed between the administrations concerned