Until today, MCMC is still not giving FM frequencies and considering new frequency apparatus assignment as MCMC is still doing FM frequency re-planning study.
Not sure what is the outcome later, sadly I received same replied by stating "no frequencies will be given at the moment".
Certain radio stations already want to apply FM frequencies, but rejected multiple times by MCMC due to unavailable frequencies. Hence, they have to shelve their frequency expansion plan.
I already feel frustrated to hear such bad news as I joined my part to help a radio station to fight for getting frequency together for 5 years, unfortunately there are no any outcome.
Online streaming and mobile app listening are the platform to bypass FM transmission restrictions, but the challenge is the internet coverage quality. Poor internet connectivity makes listeners pissed off of listening to a radio station on mobile app/online streaming such as long buffering. Moreover, internet data quota can be finished quickly when listen to radio via streaming. Therefore, I highly recommend to subscribe unlimited data internet package to avoid data to be finished instantly. DiGi Infinite 100 Postpaid is the best internet subscription package actually (RM100 per month), ideal for many purposes.
People nowadays can listen to a radio station via mobile app outdoor and in the car because the car audio system nowadays is equipped with Bluetooth, AUX jack, and newer Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. In addition, for those car stereo have no such features, people can at least buy a low power FM repeater to re-transmit sources from mobile app to the car radio.
Back to conventional platform, as FM frequency spectrum is very full in Malaysia, and I don't think MCMC will do fully overhaul on frequencies allocation much because this is costly enough to do frequency refarming, instead migrate certain frequency under interference studies. In my opinion, Malaysia should relaunch AM radio broadcast (MW) to bypass FM frequency on conventional platform.
AM broadcast is actually divided into three:
- Mediumwave (MW): The most common band for domestic and region based broadcast
- Shortwave (SW): Usually international broadcast
- Longwave (LW): The oldest radio broadcast technology in Europe which is to be obsoleted in the future.
Why AM, but not DAB+, DRM? This is because:
1. Most of our radio receivers at home and car are having AM band (which is MW), so people can listen to the radio on AM frequency, meanwhile many radio receivers in the market are not having DAB+ band, also DRM.
2. In developed countries such as Australia, Japan, South Korea, United States, United Kingdom, China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, also neighboring ASEAN countries like Indonesia and Thailand are still operating AM radio broadcast. Hence, Malaysia can relaunch AM broadcast.
If Malaysia relaunches AM broadcast to bypass FM frequency, it is ideal for talk radio stations such as BFM, CityPlus FM, and Bernama Radio as talk radio stations don't require much high audio quality sources. Meanwhile, AM radio is not ideal for music format radio stations as listeners don't like to listen to music on AM radio due to poor audio quality, compare to FM.
I spotted that BFM made multiple tries of applying FM frequencies for Penang and Johor Bahru, but the radio station was rejected by MCMC as the frequencies spectrum are fully occupied.
If BFM expanded coverage to Penang and Johor Bahru on AM frequencies, at least listeners can tune straightforward through radio receiver by switching to MW band without involving mobile phone or internet in these urban areas in Malaysia.
My suggestion of future radio broadcasting in Malaysia by relaunching AM broadcast is only applied to medium wave radio (MW), meanwhile SW shortwave and LW long wave are irrelevant for domestic radio broadcast in Malaysia.
However, there are three biggest challenges, also limitations if Malaysia relaunches AM broadcast in Malaysia.
1. Lack of AM broadcast transmission infrastructure by telecommunication provider in Malaysia as we had ceased AM broadcast completely in 1994.
Note: FM and AM broadcast infrastructure are not same. It is impossible to share with existing FM radio transmission tower infrastructure by AM radio at the same time due to different structure, design and propagation.
2. Lack of Malaysia broadcast equipment company who sells AM broadcast transmission and solutions, including antennas because Malaysia has no AM broadcast.
3. Listeners response when tuning to AM radio over reception quality, audio quality and other factors.
Another challenge of relaunching AM broadcast in Malaysia also involves listeners preference.
AM radio vs. Mobile app listening
In fact, they are having advantages and disadvantages of AM radio broadcast.
==Advantage==
* Act as alternative radio platform to FM, even can bypass FM frequency when radio broadcasters are unable to get FM frequencies due to heavily occupied by other stations.
* Can reach more listeners directly as many radio receivers are having AM band, even latest Perodua, Honda and Toyota car radios have AM broadcast band.
* As MW band can transmit further after sunset, the radio broadcaster will gain more listeners in distant areas during evening and nighttime. Example: If BFM launches AM frequency in Penang, listeners can receive BFM in Thailand (including Phuket, Krabi, Trang) and Indonesia on MW band during nighttime.
* Can bypass the areas who have poor internet coverage
==Disadvantages==
* Poor audio quality, compare to FM, DAB+ and online streaming platform.
* Interference from street light and electric appliances
* Poor reception when listen under the flyover/bridge, despite within broadcast license coverage area.
* Causing interference to other radio stations coverage during nighttime propagation. If there was poor MW frequency planning, our AM radio station can overspill to bordering countries mainly Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Indonesia during nighttime broadcast. So, frequency studies on international coordination and transmitting power planning must be conducted.
In conclusion, relaunching MW radio broadcast in Malaysia can provide another alternative platform for radio broadcasting in Malaysia, but the choice is from listeners.
Malaysia biggest telecommunication company TM (Telekom) can invest AM broadcast transmission infrastructure market by building MW mast, offering MW transmission equipment (such as transmitters and antennas) to the broadcasters who are interesting to broadcast on AM band in Malaysia.
Now, I plan to conduct a survey from you. Between two platforms, which is your listening preference?
1. AM radio (MW)
2. Mobile app/online streaming
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