Rohde & Schwarz wins Kenyan frequency management deal

The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) has commissioned its new spectrum management and monitoring system (SMMS) from Rohde & Schwarz. CA said that the system passed the final acceptance test on schedule in February. It includes both mobile and stationary components and will be implemented across the country to regulate the frequency spectrum.

Rohde & Schwarz was awarded the tender to update and expand the CA’s frequency management infrastructure in 2014. Final acceptance of the system took place in February 2016 after an on schedule delivery and implementation phase.  The CA will monitor the HF, VHF and UHF frequency spectra from a total of eleven stationary measuring and direction finding (DF) stations. Rohde & Schwarz also equipped four off-road vehicles to extend the range of the DF base and fix interferer positions while moving.

The system is centrally controlled from Nairobi, and there is an additional regional operations centre in Mombasa. Through effective frequency management, the CA can prevent, detect and ultimately eliminate interference in radiocommunications services.

Monitoring the electromagnetic spectrum and locating sources of suspect signals is necessary to ensure undisturbed reception of radio services such as broadcast radio, TV and wireless communications.

The R&S UMS300, from the R&S UMS family of universal monitoring systems accomplishes these tasks quickly and reliably. It is the core of the new Rohde & Schwarz installation in Kenya. The R&S UMS300 is enclosed in a compact, weatherproof housing that can be mounted directly on a mast close to the antennas. This results in high system sensitivity, making it possible to precisely locate even weak signals and expand the detection range.