What You Need to Know
Mozambique’s National Communications Institute (INCM) has temporarily suspended the frequency used by Radio France Internationale (RFI) due to interference affecting aeronautical communications in Maputo. This decision follows an incident reported on March 20, where RFI’s broadcasting station was identified as a potential source of the disruption, prompting immediate action to ensure air traffic’s
Africa-Press – Mozambique. Mozambique’s National Communications Institute (INCM), the telecommunications regulator, said in a statement issued on Sunday, 22 March 2026, that it has temporarily suspended the frequency used by Radio France Internationale (RFI). According to the INCM statement, the decision is related to an incident recorded last Friday, 20 March, in Maputo, involving “interference on the frequency 118.1 MHz, used in aeronautical communications services, essential for air traffic control.”
“Following a communication from Aeroportos de Moçambique, E.P., INCM technical teams were immediately mobilised to trace the source of the interference,” the statement adds.
According to the authority, “during the course of the investigation, a broadcasting station operating on the frequency 105 MHz, belonging to Radio France Internationale, was identified as a potential source of interference. Its temporary shutdown was carried out as a preventive measure, in accordance with paragraph (a) of Article 63 of the Radiocommunications Regulation, approved by Decree No. 75/2018 of 26 November.”
INCM further states that “after this intervention, the interference ceased, with the consequent normalisation of aeronautical communications,” and that “technical investigations are ongoing to confirm the causes of the interference and to implement definitive corrective measures, ensuring the protection of aeronautical communications and the integrity of the radioelectric spectrum.”
In concluding its statement, INCM reiterates “its commitment to modernising the communications sector and to consolidating a secure, transparent and efficient market, oriented towards the country’s digital transformation.”
The National Communications Institute of Mozambique (INCM) plays a crucial role in regulating telecommunications and ensuring the integrity of communication services in the country. Established to oversee the sector, INCM is responsible for managing frequencies and addressing issues that may disrupt essential services, such as aeronautical communications. This recent incident highlights the ongoing challenges faced by regulatory bodies in maintaining a secure and efficient communication environment, particularly as the country advances towards digital transformation.
