Is Kool FM able to have Johor Bahru frequency?

So far Kool FM has no frequency in Johor Bahru yet since its launching date from March 2016 until today. Recently Kool FM has reached coverage in Kuching of Sarawak on FM 104.3MHz in SACOFA Bukit Djin Kuching, until today Kool FM has not reached coverage in Johor Bahru, Melaka, Seremban, Kota Kinabalu and Perak.

Someone is suggesting Kool FM to use FM 99.5MHz in Gunung Pulai for Johor Bahru and Singapore. Seriously, FM 99.5MHz was formerly carried as Mediacorp Lush 99.5FM, a non-mainstream indie music radio station in Singapore. As part of rationalization on its radio networks, Mediacorp stopped transmission of Lush 99.5FM since 1st September 2017. The last day Lush 99.5FM broadcasting was on 31st August 2017. After 01.01.2017 0000hours, FM 99.5MHz is empty and it is static signal in Singapore.

I don't think the suggestion of Kool FM using FM 99.5MHz in Gunung Pulai will be worked and effective much as FM 99.5MHz is belonged to Singapore Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA). Before launching of Lush 99.5FM in 2004, the frequency was formerly carried as Passion FM in 2003.

If Kool FM wants to use 99.5MHz in Gunung Pulai, this will involve MCMC to deal with IMDA as Johor is under international coordination. In addition, I also don't think IMDA will simply give way of 99.5FM to neighbouring countries as IMDA will reserve 99.5FM for Singapore new radio station. Same goes to FM 89.3MHz and FM 96.3MHz, although these two frequencies were empty in Johor Bahru since 2010 and 2016 respectively, but both of them were reserved by Singapore. IMDA opened tender to new radio players until September 2016, the result of the public tender for FM 89.3MHz and FM 96.3MHz was announced on March 2017, SPH won the tenders. In November 2017, SPH (Singapore Press Holdings) announced that they would launch Money FM 89.3MHz (English business radio) and Hao 好FM 96.3MHz (Chinese retro radio to target listeners aged 45-54 years old) by January 2018.

Malaysia Communications Multimedia Commission (MCMC)

In the future, I also guess that IMDA will open public tender again for 99.5FM for new radio station in Singapore. For suggestion of Kool FM 99.5 in Johor Bahru, I think Singapore IMDA will not allow to give the frequency. It does not only involve MCMC, it also involves the cost of frequency as MCMC or Media Prima needs to pay more expensive fees of 99.5FM to IMDA Singapore.

Although Kool FM is allowed to use FM 99.5MHz. I don't guarantee that transmission will be perfect much as co-channel with Hot FM 99.5MHz Gunung Telapak Burok which may cause interference in Central Johor, plus North Johor and some Melaka areas, unless antenna pattern never beam to north direction much.

==RF Analysis==

99.5MHz: Kool FM Gunung Pulai
99.5MHz: Hot FM Gunung Telapak Burok

Until today, there is no 0kHz separation between Gunung Pulai and Gunung Telapak Burok. Checked all the radio stations, all of them are separated at 100kHz.
For other frequencies, somebody also suggested to use FM 87.5MHz. I also don't think so, because it will cause interference with Radio Discovery Minang 87.6MHz in Batam. Plus, the frequency 87.5MHz is too close with Sinar FM 87.8MHz Gunung Pulai. The minimum frequency separation between two transmitter sites within same coverage must be at least 400kHz.

When I went to Singapore, I found FM 107.9MHz was empty in Johor Bahru and Southern Johor, even Singapore too. Two years ago, I was suggesting FM 107.9MHz to be used for FM broadcasting in Gunung Pulai to MCMC, but I was told by MCMC that FM 107.9MHz is occupied for airband usage. MCMC also stated that it will cause flight accident (will led death of passengers and flight crews) because 107.9MHz will interfere with aircraft signal when it is used for broadcasting.

Although FM 107.9MHz is empty frequencies in South Johor, it is used as aircraft transmission in Johor airport, Singapore airport and Batam/Riau airport. In my opinion, in order to let Kool FM to launch Johor Bahru frequency on FM 107.9MHz in Gunung Pulai, the airport in Johor, Singapore, and Batam/Riau where use 107.9-108.1MHz as aircraft shall be changed to 108.2MHz onwards, but this will involve high costs to do reallocate broadcasting-aircraft spectrum frequencies.

FYI, the spectrum frequency range is between VHF 108MHz-137MHz.

In Malaysia, there is no any radio station to use FM 87.5MHz and 108.0MHz, except Langkawi FM in RTM Kuah (low power transmitter). Media Prima One FM in Gunung Kledang Ipoh formerly was FM 87.5MHz, it changed to FM 87.6MHz due to 87.5 reception is unstable and interference with other services. This is because MCMC may avoid the radio station to avoid to interfere with other services, so the FM frequency range is between FM 87.6MHz to FM 107.9MHz.

In conclusion, Johor Bahru is still in red light for Kool FM to reach there. For the temporary moment, Kool FM shall launch frequency in Gunung Ledang first for Melaka and North Johor (my suggestion: 100.9MHz). At least central and some southern Johor areas still can receive Kool FM from Gunung Ledang, but Johor Bahru will not receive Kool FM clearly.

Profesor Kool