The Board of Commissioners of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) recently decided to reduce the annual fees associated with the licensing of frequencies used for operating terrestrial FM radio broadcast stations. The reduction is up to 40% of the previous annual frequency fees.
اضافة اعلانBassem Fadel Al-Sarhan, Chairman of the TRA Board, explained that the decision reflects the authority's commitment to enhancing the role of the media sector as a key contributor to economic and social development. This initiative aims to support radio stations by encouraging investment in both existing operations and future projects. The goal is to ensure the continuity of radio stations, improve their ability to adapt to economic and technological changes, open new job markets, and reduce unemployment by creating more opportunities in the media sector. Additionally, the initiative demonstrates the TRA's national and social responsibility by providing support to radio stations, which serve as a vital voice reflecting the concerns of the nation and its citizens.
Al-Sarhan noted that with the rise of modern technologies allowing people to quickly access vast amounts of information via the internet or satellite radio, global interest in terrestrial radio broadcasting (FM, TV) has declined. Despite this, FM stations remain highly important for local communities, especially in times of crisis, as they play a crucial role in maintaining communication between the government and citizens. This is due to the stations' ability to rapidly disseminate content without requiring citizens to pay fees, and their availability across various devices, including vehicles and smartphones, ensuring constant access.
Recognizing the importance of terrestrial FM radio stations and the need to ensure their continued operation, the TRA has made the development and operation of these stations a top priority. Over the past period, the authority has supported these essential services through various measures in consultation with relevant stakeholders. One of these measures includes investment in monitoring equipment to ensure smooth and stable operation in a radio-friendly environment with minimal interference. The TRA hopes that this incentive package will encourage further expansion and investment in FM radio stations across different governorates.
The fee reduction applies to licensees who rebroadcast the same program across multiple governorates, allowing them to pay only 10% of the highest fees for each operating station. Additionally, the TRA has adjusted the service type coefficient (M4) in the annual frequency fee calculation for audio broadcasting services from 0.5 to 0.3. The TRA also introduced an additional incentive to reduce frequency fees for licensees who cover governorates with fewer private radio stations (such as Ma'an, Tafila, and Mafraq) to encourage radio stations to expand throughout the kingdom, supporting and enhancing social development in these regions.
It is worth noting that there are currently 47 terrestrial FM radio stations operating in the kingdom, distributed across various governorates, providing employment for many individuals in diverse technical, media, and administrative roles.
