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Electronic Communications Act, 2005 (Act No. 36 of 2005)

Regulations

Regulations on the use of Television White Spaces, 2018

16. Responsibilities of Geo-Location Spectrum Database Operators Reference GLSD

 

(1) The Authority, directly or through a designated delegated entity, will develop and operate a reference GLSD and will:
(a) maintain a reference GLSD that contains technical information about incumbent licensees to be protected;
(b) implement propagation algorithms and interference parameters issued by Authority to calculate a country-wide map of baseline Operating Parameters for WSDs.
(c) utilise the maps as regulatory limits when verifying accuracy of secondary GLSDs;
(d) update the algorithms or parameter values as necessary for good spectrum coordination;
(e) establish a technical procedure for approving entities wishing to operate secondary GLSDs; and
(f) from time to time use the reference GLSD for verification and monitoring purposes on the accuracy of results given by secondary GLSD operators

 

Secondary GLSD

 

(2) The Authority may designate entities to operate secondary GLSDs after undergoing a technical examination.

 

(3) Each secondary GLSD operator designated by the Authority must:
(a) maintain a database that contains information about incumbent licensees to be protected;
(b) establish a process in the secondary GLSD for synchronising and acquiring necessary technical information from the reference GLSD at least once a week to include newly licensed facilities or any changes to licensed facilities;
(c) establish a process for registration of Master WSDs;
(d) implement propagation algorithms and interference parameters prescribed by the Authority to calculate and provide accurate Operational Parameter to Master WSDs;
(e) establish protocols and procedures to ensure that all communications and interactions between the secondary GLSD and Master WSDs are accurate and secured;
(f) ensure that unauthorised parties cannot access or alter the database or the Operational Parameters;
(g) respond in a timely manner to verify, correct and/or remove, as appropriate, incorrect data, and perform system audit in the event that the Authority or a party brings a claim of inaccuracies in the secondary GLSD to its attention;
(h) have functionality such that upon request from the Authority be able to indicate that no TVWS channels are available when queried by WSDs;
(i) synchronise with other secondary GLSD operators designated by the Authority in every twelve (12) hours to share the lists of TVWS channels it have provided to WSDs, and in every twenty four (24) hours to share the list of protected incumbents;
(j) not provide service to Master WSD until it receives a confirming response from the provided contact person verifying their information, if the registration record has been modified the secondary GLSD operator must verify the new information before continuing to provide service to the Master WSD;
(k) not discriminate between WSDs in providing the minimum information levels; and
(l) may provide additional information to certain classes of devices.

 

Service fees

 

(4) A secondary GLSD operator may charge a service fee to the TVWS network operators for;
(a) registration of WSDs;
(b) the provision of Operational Parameters to Master WSDs;
(c) the provision of Operational Parameters to Client WSDs via Master WSDs; and
(d) the provision of Operational Parameters on a per-request basis, or for a certain time-period.