The Commission allocates and assigns frequency bands and determines any matters relating to the transmission or reception of radio communications (whether by satellite, terrestrial or other means) in accordance with the Spectrum Plans.

This responsibility is part of the Commission’s radio spectrum management function.

In carrying out this responsibility, the Commission may prescribe classes or other types of radio spectrum and radio equipment and has the power under the pdf Telecommunications Act (2009) (627 KB) to require licensing, adopt standards or set procedures, conditions and restrictions applicable to use of the radio spectrum and radio equipment.

The Commission may, by Regulation, set annual fees for the right to use particular spectrum bands. These fees will be set by the Commission after taking into consideration rationing of the radio spectrum bands and will be paid into the Universal Access Special Fund.

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Spectrum Plan

Numbering Plan

Equipment Approval

The Commission is responsible for the preparation, issuing and maintenance of an updated national radio spectrum plan and any other related radio spectrum plans, frequency band plans and plans for the migration of spectrum use to different bands.

This responsibility is part of the Commission’s radio spectrum management function and the Commission carries out this role in compliance with the pdf Telecommunications Act (2009) (627 KB)  and with the aim to enhance the long-term well-being of the population of the Solomon Islands with particular emphasis on availability, affordability, quality of services and the kinds of telecommunications services that are available in the Solomon Islands.

The Commission uses these plans to allocate frequency bands and to produce a range of frequency licences suitable for use in the Solomon Islands.

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Spectrum Allocation

pdf National Radio Frequency Spectrum Plan (2.23 MB)

APT Frequency Information System

Due to the characteristics of radio frequencies, which do not obey the restrictions of national borders, it is necessary to have an international framework of spectrum allocation and thereby mitigate the risk of interference. At the highest level, this is done within the International Telecommunications Union which is an affiliated body of the UN. Countries, usually acting within large regional blocs, agree in the ITU the basic allocation of spectrum to specified services.

While the ITU sets out a very broad framework for spectrum use at a global level, and regional bodies may add a greater degree of specificity to that framework, it is still for the individual country, such as the Solomon Islands, to decide how it will ultimately allocate its spectrum, albeit that it should do so in line with its international commitments.

The National Band Plan is the depiction of national decisions on spectrum use.

The Commission allocates and assigns numbers and number ranges to service providers in accordance with a National Numbering Plan. Recognised providers may propose numbering plans to the Commission and, within reason, are relied on to self-regulate.

Service providers use the numbers and number ranges that are allocated and assigned to them by the Commission in accordance with the National Numbering Plan and are not allowed to use any numbers that are not assigned to them or to adopt any other private numbering arrangement that conflict with the National Numbering Plan.

Generally numbers are allocated to licensees in blocks of 1,000 geographic numbers or 10,000 mobile numbers each.

For more information on Numbering, consult Part 13 of the pdf Telecommunications Act (2009) (627 KB) .

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Spectrum Plan

Spectrum Allocation

The Commission may order service providers to produce specified documents or information and may order a person to take specific actions or to cease specific actions that are required or prohibited by the pdf Telecommunications Act (2009) (627 KB)  or a determination, order, direction or licence issued under it. While enforcing the provisions of the Telecommunications Act, the Commission may, with the guidance of the courts, search or seize property and may require the attendance of witnesses, however, information or documents that have been provided to the Commission are not admissible against that person in criminal proceedings.

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Investigations