Should Malaysia relaunch AM radio to solve FM frequency spectrum congestion in Peninsular Malaysia?

Since 2014, FM radio spectrum was getting congested in Peninsular Malaysia, especially west coast. This causes many new radio broadcasters are not able to expand their radio stations coverage wider.

Somebody are suggesting to implement digital switchover for radio stations by using DAB+, I'm strongly against DAB+ technology because:

1. Higher cost to buy the DAB+ receiver
2. Expensive to broadcaster because need to add gap filler transmitter to cover blind spot
3. Malaysia geographical locations are not suitable for DAB+ broadcast
4. More listeners prefer listen to radio station digitally such as online streaming, mobile app.

Never expect all listeners to listen via online actually. Many people need to listen via radio platform.

In order to settle FM frequency spectrum congestion without performing radio spectrum refarming, I suggest that MCMC to relaunch or reopen tender applications of AM radio to new broadcaster. If new radio broadcasters want to expand coverage, but no FM radio frequencies, so they can go for AM radio platform, just depends on their decision.

RTM and TM are the most important role of relaunching AM broadcast in Malaysia as TM is broadcasting tower infrastructure provider, meanwhile RTM had experienced AM broadcast before.

For current situation, TM (Telekom Malaysia) does not make AM radio tower infrastructure yet because TM focuses on FM and digital broadcasting. So, from my view, I don't think TM will make AM radio infrastructure.

In my opinion, RTM is not only Malaysia's public broadcaster, but RTM can become broadcast tower infrastructure tower for AM broadcast, this means that RTM can provide infrastructure of AM radio to new broadcaster by opening tower rental to new players. If new broadcasters want to broadcast on AM radio in strategic transmitting site, so they can rent RTM MW (AM) tower. With this suggestion, RTM can make money by receiving transmission fees from AM broadcasters. So, both have win-win situation.

MW radio is still relevant in most of the world, but SW shortwave becomes irrelevant as people moves digitally, except for those DXers, meanwhile long-wave LW is super-irrelevant. Until today, most of radio receivers only have FM and MW radio band, SW band becomes obsoleted unless purchasing expensive receivers, LW was obsoleted many years ago.

Although MW audio is not good as FM radio, but MW is more suitable for talk radio stations, rather than music radio stations. In most of the countries, MW radio band is usually used by talk radio stations.

For talk radio station in Malaysia such as BFM, this radio station would like to expand coverage in Johor Bahru, but unfortunately FM radio frequencies are not available, so BFM can go on MW broadcast for Johor, Singapore, Batam and Melaka if infrastructure is available. Use 300kW transmission power on MW, so all Johor areas can receive BFM on MW, but the transmission can travel to Kuala Lumpur, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Selangor and Sumatra Indonesia during nighttime broadcast.

In conclusion, I hope Malaysia government will reopen MW radio spectrum tender for all radio broadcasters, and radio telecommunication players will rebuild MW tower infrastructure in Malaysia.