English — reviewed original text

Notice 10/2024: Guidelines on The Use of Licence Exempt Spectrum Bands in Eswatini, 2024 October 2023 The Eswatini Communications Commission (‘the Commission’) hereby publishes the Guidelines on the use of Licence-Exempt Spectrum Bands in terms of section 38(b) of the Eswatini Communications Commission Act, 2013 read together with sections 40, 41 and 42 of the Electronic Communications Act, 2013.

(1) Citation These Guidelines may be cited as the “Guidelines on the use of licence exempt spectrum bands, 2024”. (2) Power to issue the guidelines. These guidelines are issued in accordance with section 38(b) of the Eswatini Communications Commission Act, 2013 read together with sections 40, 41 and 42 of the Electronic Communications Act, 2013. (3) Application The guidelines shall apply to: (i) all spectrum users holding a valid individual and or general licence issued by the Commission including operators and electronic communication service providers. (ii) all users of apparatus that utilize licence exempt spectrum bands in accordance with the Electronic Communications Act, 2013 and Electronic Communications (Radio Frequency Spectrum) Regulations, 2016. (4) Purpose of the guidelines The purpose of the guidelines is: to review the existing provisions on apparatus exempt from radio frequency spectrum licenses. to provide guidance on the applicable technical standards and requirements for operating SRD’s, including emerging technologies in Eswatini. to give guidance on the use of license exempt spectrum bands for wireless access systems (WAS/RLAN) in Broadband Fixed Wireless Access (BFWA) applications, to ensure that users of these bands do not experience any harmful interference. (5) Interpretations For the purpose of these guidelines; Licence exempt apparatus shall mean a device that operates on a licence exempt basis on licence exempt bands and any other licenced bands in a non-interference non-protection basis. 2

This includes low power devices and short-range devices designed to work on a licence- exempt basis. Licence Exempt Spectrum shall mean radio frequency spectrum designated for the use of licence exempt devices based on defined technical specifications and standards. Broadband Fixed Wireless Access (BFWA) networks are based on a central radio base station, which communicates with equipment located in a multiplicity of subscriber premises in the surrounding area. Type Approval The authorization of communications equipment for importation and usage in Eswatini. This is done through verification of the equipment/device compliance to the standards and other regulatory requirements. ICNIRP International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection DFS Dynamic Frequency Selection is a channel allocation scheme designed to prevent harmful interference by automatically selecting the channel with least interference. ERC European Radiocommunications Committee CEPT European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations ETSI European Telecommunications Standards Institute R&TTE Radio & Telecommunication Terminal Equipment directive ISM radio bands are frequencies reserved internationally for the use of radio frequency (RF) energy for industrial, scientific and medical. EIRP Effective Isotropic Radiated Power RLAN Radio local area network WAS Wireless access system UWB Ultra wide band (6) General Requirements All users of licence-exempt apparatus in the country should comply with these requirements: (i) Ensure that the equipment that they intend to use is type approved by the Commission and follows all Type Approval regulations set by the Commission. 3

(ii) Ensure that the equipment operates on the permissible frequency bands as outlined in the Appendix of these guidelines. (iii) Ensure that the equipment operates in accordance with the permissible power limits as outlined in the Appendix of these guidelines. (iv) The devices (Sensors, actuators, aggregators, appliances, etc.), used in the deployment of a network, shall comply with the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) guidelines for limiting exposure to time-varying electric, magnetic, and electromagnetic fields. (v) Suitable IP addressing in IPv4 is permitted, however, migration to IPv6 is encouraged. (vi) The licencees providing the IoT services must comply with all the applicable, existing, or future laws, regulations, and requirements issued by the Commission or other authorities concerning data management including security, privacy, retention, and protection of data. (vii) Backhauling services are not permitted on all SRD bands. (viii) Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS) is not permitted on WAS/RLAN access systems for BFWA. Only static frequency selection is permitted in accordance with the channelling arrangements in Appendix 3 of this document. (7) AI / IoT device requirements Internet of Things and Artificial Intelligence devices that fall within the licence exempt bands shown in the Appendix of these guidelines shall be allowed to operate on a licence exempt basis subject to the following conditions: i). All devices under this category shall comply with the limits/parameters, allowed applications, general operating conditions etc. as per the Appendix of these guidelines. ii). All devices under this category as specified in Appendix, shall require type approval from the Commission. iii). All devices under this category shall be allowed to operate on a secondary non- interference non-protection basis as well as shall not cause interference with other authorized radio communication services and be able to tolerate any interference caused by other radio communication services. 4

iv). If any IoT or AI devices are found to be interfering with any primary service, the operation will be shut down immediately. (8) Applicable standards i). The licence exempt frequency bands and specifications in Eswatini are referenced from ERC Recommendation 70-03. ERC Recommendation 70-03 sets out the general position on common spectrum allocations for SRDs for countries within the “European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT). It is also intended that it can be used as a reference document by the CEPT member countries when preparing their national regulations in order to keep in line with the provisions of the Radio & Telecommunication Terminal Equipment (R&TTE) Directive. ii). The CEPT has adopted recommendations to deal with low power devices, and specific short-range devices. The European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) has now developed harmonised standards for the majority of these devices. Other standards or technical specifications might be applicable within the framework of the R&TTE Directive. iii). Recommendation 70-03 describes the spectrum management requirements for SRDs relating to allocated frequency bands, maximum power levels, channel spacing and duty cycle. 5

Notice 10/2024 Guidelines on The Use of Licence Exempt Spectrum Bands in Eswatini APPENDIX 13: RADIO MICROPHONE APPLICATIONS INCLUDING ASSISTIVE LISTENING DEVICES (ALD), WIRELESS AUDIO AND MULTIMEDIA STREAMING SYSTEMS. RADIO MICROPHONE APPLICATIONS INCLUDING ASSISTIVE LISTENING DEVICES (ALD), WIRELESS AUDIO AND MULTIMEDIA STREAMING SYSTEMS SCOPE: Parameters for radio microphone applications (also referred to as wireless microphones or cordless microphones), Assistive Listening Devices (ALD) (also referred to as aids for the hearing impaired) and wireless audio and multimedia streaming systems. It covers professional and consumer radio microphones, both hand-held and body-worn, in-ear monitoring devices and Assistive Listening Devices (ALD). Frequency band Max Radiated Power/Magnetic Field strength limits and Spectrum access and mitigation requirements Modulation / maximum occupied bandwidth Harmonised standards Reference/Notes 100 Hz-9 kHz 120 dBμA/m at 10m Not specified EN 303 348 EN 300 422 Inductive loop systems intended to assist the hearing impaired. Antenna size of < 1/20 λ 29.7-47 MHz 10 mW e.r.p. ≤ 50 kHz EN 300 422 Radio microphones. On a tuning range basis. Individual licence may be required 87.5-108 MHz 50 nW e.r.p. 200 kHz EN 301 357 Band II low power FM transmitters 169.4-174 MHz 10 mW e.r.p ≤ 50 kHz EN 300 422 Assistive Listening Device (ALD). On a tuning range basis 169.4-169.475 MHz 500 mW e.r.p. ≤ 50 kHz EN 300 422 Assistive Listening Device (ALD): ECC/DEC/(05)02 169.4875-169.5875 MHz 500 mW e.r.p. ≤ 50 kHz EN 300 422 Assistive Listening Device (ALD): ECC/DEC/(05)02 51

Notice 10/2024 Guidelines on The Use of Licence Exempt Spectrum Bands in Eswatini RADIO MICROPHONE APPLICATIONS INCLUDING ASSISTIVE LISTENING DEVICES (ALD), WIRELESS AUDIO AND MULTIMEDIA STREAMING SYSTEMS SCOPE: Parameters for radio microphone applications (also referred to as wireless microphones or cordless microphones), Assistive Listening Devices (ALD) (also referred to as aids for the hearing impaired) and wireless audio and multimedia streaming systems. It covers professional and consumer radio microphones, both hand-held and body-worn, in-ear monitoring devices and Assistive Listening Devices (ALD). Frequency band Max Radiated Power/Magnetic Field strength limits and Spectrum access and mitigation requirements Modulation / maximum occupied bandwidth Harmonised standards Reference/Notes 173.965-216 MHz 10 mW e.r.p. ≤ 50 kHz EN 300 422 Assistive Listening Device (ALD). On a tuning range basis. Individual licence may be required: ECC Report 230 174-216 MHz 50 mW e.r.p. Not Specified EN 300 422 Radio microphones. On a tuning range basis. Individual licence may be required 470-786 MHz 50 mW e.r.p. Not Specified EN 300 422 Radio microphones. On a tuning range basis. Individual licence may be required 786-789 MHz 12 mW e.r.p. Not Specified EN 300 422 Radio microphones. On a tuning range basis. Individual licence may be required. See technical conditions for PMSE (including radio microphones): ECC/DEC/(09)03 section 3.1 823-826 MHz 20 mW e.i.r.p. / 100 mW e.i.r.p. Not Specified EN 300 422 Radio microphones. On a tuning range basis. Individual licence may be 52

Notice 10/2024 Guidelines on The Use of Licence Exempt Spectrum Bands in Eswatini RADIO MICROPHONE APPLICATIONS INCLUDING ASSISTIVE LISTENING DEVICES (ALD), WIRELESS AUDIO AND MULTIMEDIA STREAMING SYSTEMS SCOPE: Parameters for radio microphone applications (also referred to as wireless microphones or cordless microphones), Assistive Listening Devices (ALD) (also referred to as aids for the hearing impaired) and wireless audio and multimedia streaming systems. It covers professional and consumer radio microphones, both hand-held and body-worn, in-ear monitoring devices and Assistive Listening Devices (ALD). Frequency band Max Radiated Power/Magnetic Field strength limits and Spectrum access and mitigation requirements Modulation / maximum occupied bandwidth Harmonised standards Reference/Notes required. See technical conditions for PMSE (including radio microphones): ECC/DEC/(09)03 section 3.1 826-832 MHz 100 mW e.i.r.p. Not Specified EN 300 422 Radio microphones. On a tuning range basis. Individual licence may be required. See technical conditions for PMSE (including radio microphones): ECC/DEC/(09)03 section 3.1 863-865 MHz 10 mW e.r.p. Not Specified EN 300 422 EN 301 357 Radio microphones, wireless audio and multimedia streaming devices. 1350-1400 MHz 20 mW e.i.r.p. / 50 mW e.i.r.p. Not Specified EN 300 422 Radio microphones. Individual licence may be required. 50 mW restricted to body worn equipment or equipment with Spectrum Scanning 53

Notice 10/2024 Guidelines on The Use of Licence Exempt Spectrum Bands in Eswatini RADIO MICROPHONE APPLICATIONS INCLUDING ASSISTIVE LISTENING DEVICES (ALD), WIRELESS AUDIO AND MULTIMEDIA STREAMING SYSTEMS SCOPE: Parameters for radio microphone applications (also referred to as wireless microphones or cordless microphones), Assistive Listening Devices (ALD) (also referred to as aids for the hearing impaired) and wireless audio and multimedia streaming systems. It covers professional and consumer radio microphones, both hand-held and body-worn, in-ear monitoring devices and Assistive Listening Devices (ALD). Frequency band Max Radiated Power/Magnetic Field strength limits and Spectrum access and mitigation requirements Modulation / maximum occupied bandwidth Harmonised standards Reference/Notes Procedure (SSP) implemented for the 1350-1400 MHz band 1492-1518 MHz 50 mW e.i.r.p Not Specified EN 300 422 Radio microphones. On a tuning range basis. Individual licence required. Restricted to indoor use 1518-1525 MHz 50 mW e.i.r.p. Not Specified EN 300 422 Radio microphones. On a tuning range basis. Individual licence required. Restricted to indoor use 1656.5-1660.5 MHz 2 mW/ 600 kHz e.i.r.p Not Specified EN 300 422 Assistive Listening Systems. Individual licence may be required. ECC Report 270 1785-1795 MHz 20 mW e.i.r.p. / 50 mW e.i.r.p Not Specified EN 300 422 Radio microphones. Individual licence may be required. 50 mW restricted to body worn equipment or equipment 54

Notice 10/2024 Guidelines on The Use of Licence Exempt Spectrum Bands in Eswatini RADIO MICROPHONE APPLICATIONS INCLUDING ASSISTIVE LISTENING DEVICES (ALD), WIRELESS AUDIO AND MULTIMEDIA STREAMING SYSTEMS SCOPE: Parameters for radio microphone applications (also referred to as wireless microphones or cordless microphones), Assistive Listening Devices (ALD) (also referred to as aids for the hearing impaired) and wireless audio and multimedia streaming systems. It covers professional and consumer radio microphones, both hand-held and body-worn, in-ear monitoring devices and Assistive Listening Devices (ALD). Frequency band Max Radiated Power/Magnetic Field strength limits and Spectrum access and mitigation requirements Modulation / maximum occupied bandwidth Harmonised standards Reference/Notes with Spectrum Scanning Procedure (SSP) implemented for the 1785-1804.8 MHz band 1795-1800 MHz 20 mW e.i.r.p. / 50 mW e.i.r.p. Not Specified EN 300 422 EN 301 357 Radio microphones including wireless audio and multimedia streaming devices. Individual licence may be required. 50 mW restricted to body worn equipment or equipment with Spectrum Scanning Procedure (SSP) implemented for the 1785-1804.8 MHz band 1800-1804.8 MHz 20 mW e.i.r.p. / 50 mW e.i.r.p. Not Specified EN 300 422 Radio microphones. Individual licence may be required 50 mW restricted to body worn equipment or equipment with Spectrum Scanning Procedure (SSP) implemented for the 55

Notice 10/2024 Guidelines on The Use of Licence Exempt Spectrum Bands in Eswatini RADIO MICROPHONE APPLICATIONS INCLUDING ASSISTIVE LISTENING DEVICES (ALD), WIRELESS AUDIO AND MULTIMEDIA STREAMING SYSTEMS SCOPE: Parameters for radio microphone applications (also referred to as wireless microphones or cordless microphones), Assistive Listening Devices (ALD) (also referred to as aids for the hearing impaired) and wireless audio and multimedia streaming systems. It covers professional and consumer radio microphones, both hand-held and body-worn, in-ear monitoring devices and Assistive Listening Devices (ALD). Frequency band Max Radiated Power/Magnetic Field strength limits and Spectrum access and mitigation requirements Modulation / maximum occupied bandwidth Harmonised standards Reference/Notes 1785-1804.8 MHz band APPENDIX 14: ACTIVE MEDICAL IMPLANTS AND THEIR ASSOCIATED PERIPHERALS APPLICATIONS ACTIVE MEDICAL IMPLANTS AND THEIR ASSOCIATED PERIPHERALS SCOPE: Parameters for Active Medical Implants and their associated peripherals. Frequency band Max Radiated Power/Magnetic Field strength limits and Spectrum access and mitigation requirements Modulation / maximum occupied bandwidth Harmonised Standards Reference/Notes 9-315 kHz 30 dBµA/m at 10m ≤ 10% duty cycle Not specified EN 302 195 The application is for Ultra Low Power Active Medical Implant systems using inductive loop techniques for telemetry purposes 56

Notice 10/2024 Guidelines on The Use of Licence Exempt Spectrum Bands in Eswatini ACTIVE MEDICAL IMPLANTS AND THEIR ASSOCIATED PERIPHERALS SCOPE: Parameters for Active Medical Implants and their associated peripherals. Frequency band Max Radiated Power/Magnetic Field strength limits and Spectrum access and mitigation requirements Modulation / maximum occupied bandwidth Harmonised Standards Reference/Notes 30-37.5 MHz 1 mW e.r.p. ≤ 10% duty cycle Not specified EN 302 510 The application is for Ultra Low Power medical membrane implants for blood pressuremeasurements. 2483.5-2500 MHz 10 dBm e.i.r.p. LBT+AFA and ≤ 10% duty cycle 1 MHz EN 301 559 For Low Power Active Medical Implants and associated peripherals, covered by the applicable harmonised standard. Individual transmitters may combine adjacent channels on a dynamic basis for increased bandwidth higher than 1 MHz. Peripheral units are for indoor use only. 401-406 MHz See EN 301 839 EN 302 537 For Ultra Low Power Active Medical Implant (ULP-AMI) communication 57

Notice 10/2024 Guidelines on The Use of Licence Exempt Spectrum Bands in Eswatini ACTIVE MEDICAL IMPLANTS AND THEIR ASSOCIATED PERIPHERALS SCOPE: Parameters for Active Medical Implants and their associated peripherals. Frequency band Max Radiated Power/Magnetic Field strength limits and Spectrum access and mitigation requirements Modulation / maximum occupied bandwidth Harmonised Standards Reference/Notes detailed requirements in the related ERC Decision systems. ERC/DEC/(01)17 58

Notice 10/2024 Guidelines on The Use of Licence Exempt Spectrum Bands in Eswatini APPENDIX 16: MEDICAL DATA ACQUISITION APPLICATIONS MEDICAL DATA ACQUISITION SCOPE: Parameters for medical data acquisition applications. They cover transmission of nonvoice data to and from non-implantable medical devices for the purpose of monitoring, diagnosing and treating patients in healthcare facilities or patient’s home Frequency band Max Radiated Power/Magnetic Field strength limits and Spectrum access and mitigation requirements Modulation / maximum occupied bandwidth Harmonised Standards Reference 430-440 MHz -50 dBm/100kHz max e.r.p. density but not exceeding a total power of -40 dBm/10MHz (both limits are intended for measurement outside of the patient's body) ≤ 10 MHz EN 303 520 CEPT/ERC/REC 70-03. Ultra-Low Power Wireless Medical Capsule Endoscopy (ULP-WMCE) 2483.5-2500 MHz 1 mW e.r.p. Adequate spectrum sharing mechanisms (e.g. Listen-Before-Talk and Adaptive ≤ 3 MHz EN 303 203 CEPT/ERC/REC 70-03. Medical Body Area Network System MBANS, indoor only within healthcare facilities. 62

Notice 10/2024 Guidelines on The Use of Licence Exempt Spectrum Bands in Eswatini MEDICAL DATA ACQUISITION SCOPE: Parameters for medical data acquisition applications. They cover transmission of nonvoice data to and from non-implantable medical devices for the purpose of monitoring, diagnosing and treating patients in healthcare facilities or patient’s home Frequency band Max Radiated Power/Magnetic Field strength limits and Spectrum access and mitigation requirements Modulation / maximum occupied bandwidth Harmonised Standards Reference Frequency Agility) shall be implemented by the equipment and ≤ 10% duty cycle 2483.5-2500 MHz 10 dBm e.i.r.p. Adequate spectrum sharing mechanisms (e.g. Listen-Before-Talk and Adaptive Frequency Agility) shall be implemented by the equipment and ≤ 2% duty cycle ≤ 3 MHz EN 303 203 CEPT/ERC/REC 70-03: MBANS, indoor only within the patient’s home. 63