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PNG's National Broadcaster Moves To Reintroduce Shortwave Radio For Nationwide Coverage By 2030
Papua New Guinea's National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) is aiming to reintroduce shortwave radio to achieve the government's goal of 100 percent broadcast coverage by 2030.
This week, the state owned broadcaster hosted a workshop on the reintroduction of shortwave radio transmission, bringing together key government agencies and other stakeholders.
NBC managing director Kora Nou said the proposed reintroduction of shortwave radio can only be achieved through a collaborative effort.
He said it is important because it ensures remote communities have access to timely news and information.
NBC's executive director (engineering) Seloka Lewangu explained the importance of shortwave, while making a comparison with Frequency Modulation [FM], Shortwave, and Mediumwave transmission.
"FM is line of sight. If you see the tower, you receive the signal. If you don't see the tower, you don't receive the signal," he said.
"Medium Wave has a wider coverage compared to FM. Coverage for FM is more for cities and towns.
"When you talk about medium wave, you talk regional now.
"When you talk shortwave, you talk countrywide. That's why we are talking. If shortwave can do it for us, with all our rugged mountains and scattered islands."
This transition is timely and important for wider coverage, as it will enable broader and more reliable broadcast reach across the country's rugged terrain.
NBC also believes this shift will reduce dependency on costly hardware, making maintenance and upgrades easier while ensuring improved emergency communication and public awareness.
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