The Dominican Institute of Telecommunications (Indotel) and the National Telecommunications Council of the Republic of Haiti (Conatel) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, committing to work together to solve the problem of radio frequency and telephone interference. In the boundary Area.
The agreement, signed by Indotel Chairman of the Board of Directors, Nelson Arroyo, and Conatel Chief Executive Officer, León Jean Marie Guillaume, stipulates that monitoring will be performed to identify interference from radio stations in both countries, which will to happen. once a year, early March or October.
In addition, it indicates that Conatel and Indotel will send a joint technical team to monitor the frequencies and telecommunication sites on the border strips.
“ The parties undertake to ensure and guarantee that the broadcasting stations (broadcasting, telecommunications) comply with the technical specifications defined in their operating license so that their signals do not exceed the coverage areas defined in the regulatory frameworks of both countries , causing radio-electrical disturbances in the neighboring area, ”Indotel’s communications indicate.
They also agreed to prevent the inhabitants of the border areas from involuntarily picking up signals broadcast by the mobile phone network operators in the other country. “As a result, this brings the high tariffs (rates) for using mobile roaming,” emphasizes the agreement.
The parties mandated the creation of a permanent working table to address common challenges and follow-up meetings for the effective implementation of the terms and commitments of the agreement.
Nelson Arroyo said there is a need for effective regulation of telecommunications services in the Dominican Republic and Haiti.
“There are complaints of interference in both countries, so annual efforts are meant to jointly provide solutions to these problems,” Arroyo said.
Marie Guillaume said the signing of the memorandum is an advance in relations between Indotel and Conatel, which will help resolve the interference problems at the border.
He also said these show that both countries can work together to solve bigger problems.
Cooperation area
They emphasized that the cooperation between the two regulators covers the areas of interest that will be developed by each country in its territory and in accordance with the scope of their respective competences, such as’ strategic planning and management of the use of the radio frequency spectrum. “
Also the use of radio spectrum and its allocation for the provision of telecommunications services, especially in border areas; likewise harmonization in the development of standards and models to which telecommunications service providers must adhere, including basic services, the introduction and ownership of new information and communication technologies in both countries.
The area of cooperation includes the defense and protection of the rights of users of public telecommunications services in the respective countries and the exchange of experiences and good practices in the field of ICT, as well as the reciprocity of experts, the organization of visits and meetings when deemed necessary by the two signatory entities.
The Memorandum also specifies that, to the extent permitted by respective laws in force, joint operations may be conducted to find solutions to common problems pertaining to the areas of interest to cooperation.