ZICTA Shuts Down Four Radio Stations Over Aviation Signal Interference
Reaffirming its commitment to protecting national airspace and public safety, ZICTA said the integrity of the national spectrum will not be compromised, and urged all operators to cooperate with ongoing monitoring and corrective measures.
The Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA) has shut down four radio stations in Copperbelt Province after investigations confirmed that their transmissions were interfering with aircraft communication and navigation systems.
The action follows a joint technical assessment conducted by ZICTA and the Zambia Civil Aviation Authority (ZCAA), which found that some broadcasters were emitting out-of-band signals as well as unwanted emissions such as harmonics and intermodulation products. These signals extended beyond their assigned FM broadcasting frequencies and disrupted radio systems used for air navigation.
According to the authorities, the interference posed a serious risk to aviation safety, as aircraft rely on clear, uninterrupted communication channels for contact with air traffic control and accurate navigation. Any disruption to these systems could endanger lives and compromise the safety of air operations.
ZICTA stated that the affected stations will only be allowed to resume operations after fully complying with regulatory requirements. The Authority emphasized that the emissions violated national spectrum regulations under Section 79 of the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) Act No. 15 of 2009, and that non-compliance with licensing conditions constitutes an offence.
The regulator further reminded all licensees that they are required to operate strictly within assigned frequencies, maintain approved bandwidth limits, avoid harmful interference—particularly to safety-of-life services—and ensure all equipment meets prescribed technical standards.
ZICTA has directed all identified broadcasters to immediately cease transmission until technical faults, equipment issues, or configuration problems are corrected and verified through regulatory inspection.
The Authority also issued a strong warning to all ICT sector operators that continued non-compliance with licence conditions—whether technical, operational, or administrative—will attract enforcement action.
Reaffirming its commitment to protecting national airspace and public safety, ZICTA said the integrity of the national spectrum will not be compromised, and urged all operators to cooperate with ongoing monitoring and corrective measures.
