New commercial radio broadcasters are struggling over RTM's duplicated FM radio frequencies in Klang Valley, causing the new broadcasters are not able to apply new frequency license, but RTM does not release the frequency by terminating Kuala Lumpur Tower transmission. Why?

Few new radio broadcasters are willing to broadcast through FM radio frequencies transmission platform in order to approach the listeners, unfortunately they are unable to make frequency license application due to frequency spectrum is full, but several radio broadcasters (notably commercial) are blaming the public radio broadcaster RTM for operating two frequencies in same coverage, especially in Klang Valley where RTM operates in Gunung Ulu Kali and Kuala Lumpur Tower.

The new radio broadcasters are actually struggling over RTM's duplicated FM radio frequencies in Klang Valley, and they want RTM to cease Kuala Lumpur Tower radio transmission in order to release more frequencies. So, they can get one of them.

In reality, I don't think RTM will terminate Kuala Lumpur Tower radio transmission in order to release the frequencies to new commercial radio broadcasters because KL Tower acts as the gap filler transmitter to cover Klang Valley areas where some locations cannot receive Gunung Ulu Kali signal clearly.

Here are the duplicated RTM radio frequencies in Klang Valley by stations.

1. Radio Klasik

* 98.3MHz: Gunung Ulu Kali 

* 87.7MHz: Kuala Lumpur Tower

2. Nasional FM

* 95.3MHz: Gunung Ulu Kali

* 88.5MHz: Kuala Lumpur Tower

3. Traxx FM

* 100.1MHz: Gunung Ulu Kali

* 90.3MHz: Kuala Lumpur Tower

4. Ai FM

* 106.7MHz: Gunung Ulu Kali

* 89.3MHz: Kuala Lumpur Tower

5. Minnal FM

* 96.3MHz: Gunung Ulu Kali

* 92.3MHz: Kuala Lumpur Tower

6. Asyik FM/Salam FM

* 102.5MHz: Gunung Ulu Kali

* 91.1MHz: Kuala Lumpur Tower

In Kuala Lumpur city center and some Klang Valley areas such as Sungai Buloh, RTM radio stations from Gunung Ulu Kali are less clear, so KL Tower transmitter takes place to cover blind spot coverage of Gunung Ulu Kali in Klang Valley. As RTM is public radio broadcaster which is government service to the people by delivering public messages, it is very important to keep KL Tower radio transmission on air because KL Tower acts as gap filler transmitter in Klang Valley.

If RTM abolishes the transmission of KL Tower radio such as 87.7MHz, 88.5MHz, 89.3MHz, 90.3MHz, 91.1MHz and 92.3MHz, then the radio broadcasters take over these frequencies and transmit in Gunung Ulu Kali, it would cause interference to existing radio stations coverage such as Gunung Kledang in Central Perak, Gunung Telapak Buruk in Negeri Sembilan and several RTM's gap filler areas like Felda Terolak Timur, unless they remain the transmission site in Bukit Sungai Besi or KL Tower.

 

Among the frequencies, only 92.3MHz is suitable for Gunung Ulu Kali transmission, the rest are NO! 

 

Terminating RTM's KL Tower frequencies does not guarantee the new radio broadcasters can use them for Gunung Ulu Kali and Bukit Sungai Besi transmission.

Nasional FM Gunung Ulu Kali transmitter 95.3MHz operates at 5kW power, but several Kuala Lumpur areas cannot receive clearly due to high rise buildings, so FM 88.5MHz takes place. In addition, if I suggest RTM to increase Gunung Ulu Kali transmitter power for Radio Klasik FM 98.3MHz, Traxx FM 100.1MHz, Ai FM 106.7MHz and Minnal FM 96.3MHz to 3.5kW or 5kW, then abolish KL Tower transmission, it cannot guarantee the high power transmission from Gunung Ulu Kali can cover Kuala Lumpur even clearer like KL Tower.

 

Just like Negeri FM in Tampin, Negeri Sembilan, I detect duplicate frequencies there, such as FM 95.7MHz (Bukit Tampin) and FM 107.7MHz (Gunung Ledang). 10 years ago, I suggested RTM to abolish FM 95.7MHz in order to give way to Asyik FM 95.6MHz for coverage expansion to Melaka and Negeri Sembilan from Gunung Ledang, but RTM did not decide to terminate Negeri FM 95.7MHz Bukit Tampin transmission because Rembau areas such as Chengkau and Kota need Bukit Tampin transmission. Chengkau and Kota cannot receive Negeri FM 92.6MHz and 107.7MHz clearly, so FM 95.7MHz Bukit Tampin takes place.