Communication Act 2015 has directed key areas where regulations is needed as a second instrument to guide the regulator in managing and administering communication services across Tonga. From time to time, regulations will be developed or updated to meet the technological changes and consumer interest. The following regulations below are active and in place to help the Regulator achieving its power, function and roles:
Radio Spectrum
The Radio Spectrum Rules were effective in July 1st, 2019 as a guideline for managing and planning of radio frequencies within the Kingdom in a way that is safer and securer for not only the licensed users but to the communities and our citizens.
This regulations act as a guide for the Ministry on in administration process including type of licenses, fees, exempt equipment, direction to maintain its register, license eligibility and requirements, application processes, procedures and it time-frame, validity of licenses, as well and conditions for transfer and renewal of an existing license.
To operate a radio communication equipment, you must have a license approval from the Ministry of Communications (MEIDECC) to make sure your radio communication equipment and its operating frequencies meet the requirements through an application process.
National Frequency Allocation Table and National Spectrum Plan
National Frequency Allocation Table (NFAT) is a table list of frequencies allocated for each radio communication services for Tonga that is derived from an International Frequency Allocation Table (IFAT) developed by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) for its Regions. Tonga is under the Asia-Pacific Region - Region 3, hence, Tonga is adopting ITU's IFAT for Region 3 as its NFAT.
For such radio communication service allowed to be used in Tonga, that service and its operating frequency must have been allocated on the NFAT. For e.g., for an operator to request for a cellular frequency on GSM900 band, Tonga's NFAT must have allocated this band for International Mobile Telecommunication (IMT) or simply mobile cellular service.
The National Spectrum Plan is the summary of usage that each allocated bands on the NFAT is being nationally used for. You can find this on the NFAT document.
Click here to download to download the NFAT.(New version of NFAT is to be released early this year 2021(Version 2021))
To apply for a radio spectrum license, please visit here to download the application form here.
License Types and Fees
The purpose of license fees is to allow the regulator to properly administer the Act and Rules of communication, and to continually seek improvement in efficiently administering the Act.
Most fees apply annual fixed charges while the heavy-used blocks of frequencies apply annual charges per bandwidth (BW).
Please refer to Schedule 1 of the Spectrum License Rules 2019 for fees of each license types including its validity.
Frequency Block Assignment Formula
Annual fees for frequencies assigned in a block of frequencies can be calculated from its the amount of frequencies (bandwidth, BW) assigned using the formula below:
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Annual license fee = BV * BW * CF * GEO * FBF |
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BV - the base value of the block based on the service type
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BW - bandwidth of the block in MHz
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CF - the coverage factor between 1 and 5 to be determined by the regulator based on the coverage of the radio network
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GEO - the geographical factor between 0.1 and 2.0 to be determined by the density of the area it provides radio services to.
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FBF - the frequency band factor between 0.1 and 2.0 to be determined by the potential value of the band portion.
License Exemption
As implies by the Radio Spectrum License, the public can operate these radio equipment on assigned frequencies without the need to obtain a license or to pay a license fee.
To use these frequencies, your equipment must meet the technical standards adopts by approved certification and standardization bodies. Meeting recommended standards allows your equipment to minimize any cause for radio interference with other radio equipment within or near the licensed frequencies.
The list of radio equipment exempt from licensing can be found on Schedule 2 of the Radio Spectrum Rules 2019.
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