Colombia. The Mayor's Office of Medellín, in coordination with the National Spectrum Agency (ANE) and other national entities, led an operation that allowed the cessation of broadcasts and the seizure of equipment from five illegal stations that were affecting the safety of air operations and telecommunications in Medellín and the Aburrá Valley.
The frequencies intervened were La Consentida (93.5 FM), La Popular (105.6 FM), Sentimiento Estéreo (106.6 FM), Radio Ya (103.5 FM) and La Caliente (91.3 FM), the latter with coverage of 80% of the metropolitan territory.
The investigations showed that these stations operated without authorization, interfering with critical signals such as communications between aircraft and the control tower of the Olaya Herrera airport, in addition to impacting the operation of mobile telephony, internet access, television transmissions and frequencies used by emergency services such as ambulances and police. This situation put the lives of citizens and the safety of the air operation throughout the region at risk.
"In Medellín there is authority and order to protect life and guarantee the correct use of the spectrum. These illegal structures not only commit crimes, they also put air safety and that of our citizens at risk. With intelligence, institutional articulation and cooperation with the National Government, we will not give a truce to those who intend to operate outside the law," said the Secretary of Security and Coexistence, Manuel Villa Mejía.
The authorities confirmed that the dismantled frequencies had a history of recurrent interference, which forced a process of investigation and technical monitoring by the ANE and the Civil Aeronautics. In several of the cases, incidents were recorded in which aircraft reported difficulties communicating with the control tower, which evidenced the level of risk generated by these clandestine emissions.
The confiscated equipment was placed in the custody of the competent authorities and the sanctioning processes contemplated in Law 1341 of 2009 were initiated, which provides for fines of up to 15,000 legal minimum wages in force, in addition to criminal investigations, in accordance with Article 257 of the Criminal Code.
The entities announced that they will continue monitoring and control work to guarantee a spectrum free of interference and safe for all citizens.
