New FM broadcast frequency plan

The new FM broadcast frequency plan prepared under the National Telecommunications Policy which was drawn upon the instructions of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and executed

under the direction of Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga will come into operation from tomorrow (November 1), said the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL)in a press release yesterday.

The release states the new FM broadcast frequency plan at aims at minimizing technical problems hindering listeners from obtaining a clear sound reception.

There are about 45 FM broadcasting channels which operate within the 87.5-108 MHz frequency range.

The TRCSL prepared a new transparent plan to re-allocate the frequencies among the FM channels taking into account the frequencies used by them. This was done on the basis of a national policy to reform the system, with the objective of minimising the practical problems confronting both radio broadcasters and listeners.

The release said the TRCSL received the fullest co-operation from all the radio broadcasters in the task undertaken by the TRCSL to establish a clear and comprehensive FM Radio network.

Frequencies have been allocated to ensure that all FM radio channels could be accessed with ease and sound broadcast from these radio channels is clearly received and heard by listeners without loss of quality in any part of the island.

The frequency separation of 100 KHz between two channels has been increased to 300 KHz.