FG commissions radio frequency monitoring equipment, centre

The Federal Government has commissioned the first-ever Mobile Radio Frequency Monitory Equipment, National Spectrum Management System, Denial of Service (DOS) Equipment and a National Control Centre, in Abuja. The Minister of Communications, Dr. Adebayo Shittu, who commissioned the devices at the weekend, described the development as historic and necessary, looking at the fact that the […]

The Federal Government has commissioned the first-ever Mobile Radio Frequency Monitory Equipment, National Spectrum Management System, Denial of Service (DOS) Equipment and a National Control Centre, in Abuja.

The Minister of Communications, Dr. Adebayo Shittu, who commissioned the devices at the weekend, described the development as historic and necessary, looking at the fact that the Ministry is the Secretariat of the National Frequency Management Council (NFMC).

Dr. Shittu who expressed joy on the successful delivery of the equipment and explained that it is a pioneer project of the current administration and being first of its kind after several attempts and efforts by past administrations to get funding for the project proved abortive.

“With these facilities in place, the Ministry now has the capacity to detect, identify and locate the sources of transmissions and is, therefore, able to determine if a frequency user is duly licensed or not.

“In addition, the use of the state-of-the-art equipment would enable the Ministry to ensure that duly licensed users of radio frequency spectrum operate in compliance with technical specifications,” the Minister said.

He disclosed that Ministry of Communications had in March 2017 secured the Federal Executive council’s (FEC) approval to award a contract for the project to Messrs.’ TCI International Inc., USA at the cost of $9.085 million for the supply, installation, and commissioning of the sophisticated world class monitoring devices.

The devices include five state-of-the-art Mobile Radio Monitoring Equipment, a National Spectrum Management System, two Denial of Service (DoS) equipment and the establishment of a National Control Centre.

The Minister said that each of the five monitoring vehicles would now be deployed to each of the Monitoring Centers in Gusau, Zamfara state to cover the North Western States, Ipaja, Lagos to cover the South Western States and Ogoja, Cross River State to cover States in the South-South while each of the two Denial of Service equipment would be deployed to Abuja and Lagos to serve the North Central and Southern States respectively.

He urged all Ministries, Departments and Agencies, Private individuals and organizations that use the frequency spectrum to first obtain authorization from the Ministry of communications before procuring and operating any radio communications equipment.