The Hungarian Communications Market Developments and ...

The Hungarian Communications Market Developments and Regulation between 2004 and 2008
2.4 Measurement service
In order to protect communications services, to guarantee efficient
frequency use free of harmful interferences, and to ensure electromagnetic
compatibility (EMC), the National Communications Authority
operates a radio measurement and radio interference elimination
service, also know as the Measurement Service.
Market surveillance of electronic communications services and
equipment
The market surveillance activity involves on the spot or laboratory
measurements to establish the basic parameters of communications
services, electronic communications equipment as well as electric and
electronic devices producing high-frequency signals or side effects.
Radio inspection, spectrum monitoring
The purpose of monitoring frequency use is to support frequency
management processes in the work associated with frequency assignment,
licensing, planning, and coordination.
The Measurement Service continuously monitors and measures
radio stations and ensures that their operation is in accordance with
legal regulations and the pertaining radio licenses. The purpose of
continuous monitoring is to identify the possible causes of interferences
in time and to leave sufficient time for intervention with a view
to preventing significant damage in the operation of service providers
or services. The prompt recognition of anomalies makes fast and
effective measures possible facilitating the repair of deficiencies.
Obtaining a true picture of the transmitted signal characteristics
of physically disseminated broadcasts of various parameters and
operating in a wide range of frequencies is only possible with the
help of monitoring stations with appropriate area coverage installed
in fixed-locations.
Besides the control of terrestrial broadcasts, the monitoring activity
of the Measurement Service also involves satellite broadcasts
available in Hungary.
Radio monitoring and detection
The Authority also checks compliance with radio licenses in the location
of the installations in order to reveal the technical and operational
characteristics of transmitters and to identify the sources of potential
disturbances or any defective equipment. Moreover, the purpose of
radio monitoring is to detect unauthorized pirate radios.
The basic duty of the Measurement Service is to measure coverage
field strength of services, primarily of broadcasting transmissions.
This duty becomes essential particularly during the introduction
of new services such as the current introduction of digital
television and radio services.
Radio interference assessment
Reception and other radiocommunication disturbances as well as
problems related to electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) are investigated
by the Measurement Service upon request or ex officio, to be
followed by measures taken for the elimination thereof.
Calibration of measuring equipment
The appropriate functioning of the instruments and measuring equipment
used can only be guaranteed through regular supervision. The
calibration of measuring equipment used for measurements with
legal effect is carried out by the accredited calibration laboratory of
the Measurement Service.
Development projects of the Measurement Service
As a result of the technical development projects undertaken in the
period between 2004 and 2008, the Measurement Service of NHH is
now of the highest quality.
The full rollout of the national systems of spectrum/interference
monitoring and radio monitoring was completed by the end of 2004.
Currently, there are 30 monitoring stations of remote operation in the
country, with additional 10 measurement vehicles with special equipment
for the supervision of radio broadcasts.
The objective of the Measurement Service Strategy, accepted in
2006, is to enforce law-abiding frequency use. The main instruments
of such a strategy are Authority controls and the promotion of consumer
awareness. With these goals in mind, an information system
was developed to make measurement results and figures available
to anyone interested in the characteristics of commercially available
electronic equipment as well as in the parameters of, and the coverage
and spectrum use information concerning, radio broadcasts.
There is a global need for the introduction of the newest radio
services, although a growing concern has been experienced over
the last decade as regards the health effects of electromagnetic
radiation. As a consequence of this, the rapid growth of the use of
radio equipment and services is accompanied by increasing public
resistance to new installations. The Authority tries to help resolve this
contradiction by supplying information to the public in this matter,
too. The objective of the Authority’s awareness programme as regards
electromagnetic environmental effects is to create an informative
forum on the website of NHH for the public on the degree and
distribution of electromagnetic power density.
The Measurement Service Strategy was formulated with the aim
of preparing for future challenges, in particular the digital switchover,
and with a view to establishing the goals to be achieved and
the tasks to be performed in order to ensure smooth operation.
The measurement technique used for digital systems marks a true
paradigm change as compared to the methods used in previous
procedures, which is calling not only for the extension of profes-