KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Spectrum Management Authority (SMA) has warned about the risks associated with signal interference and the shared responsibility of entities which use the spectrum to ensure safe airspace communication.

At a recent stakeholders luncheon at the Grand Hotel Excelsior in Port Royal, the SMA underscored the importance of maintaining interference-free communications within the aeronautical band.

The luncheon brought together representatives of the high-fidelity audio over the 88–108 MHz VHF radio band using frequency modulation (FM), the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority (JCAA), the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) Air Wing, and other spectrum users.

Managing Director of the SMA, Dr Maria Myers Hamilton, underscored the critical role of safeguarding the aeronautical band, which is used by civil aviation and air traffic controllers to communicate with aircraft operating within Jamaica’s national airspace.

“Practices such as over modulation can introduce harmful interference within the aeronautical band, potentially disrupting communication between pilots and air traffic controllers,” said Myers Hamilton.

She encouraged broadcasters and operators to promptly communicate any operational concerns to the SMA so that potential issues can be addressed before they affect essential communications within Jamaica’s airspace.

Band planning manager at the SMA, Abean Cooper, used the luncheon to highlight the importance of continued stakeholder engagement for efficient spectrum management.

“Engagements like these provide an important opportunity to connect with stakeholders and spectrum users, allowing us to align field operations with regulatory data, mitigate interference, and work toward maintaining clean spectrum for all,” he noted.

Throughout the luncheon, SMA’s technical teams delivered presentations outlining its monitoring, engineering and band planning activities.

Stakeholders were provided with insight into how monitoring exercises are conducted, the technical review processes used to assess compliance and the challenges currently faced in managing spectrum usage across multiple services.

Major Nick Morris of the JDF Air Wing highlighted the operational importance of reliable radio communication for aviation missions, including medical airlifts between healthcare facilities.

“Reliable communication is essential during medical evacuations, where patients may require urgent transfer between medical facilities and any disruption in signal could place lives at risk,” said Morris.

In the meantime, Howard Armstrong, general manager at the Aeronautical Telecommunications Limited (AEROTEL), and Howard Greaves, deputy director general of Air Navigation Services at the JCAA, gave insight into the importance of structured checks and safety processes in aviation operations and shared insights from Hurricane Melissa.

They noted that response and recovery efforts following the October 2025 category five storm demonstrated strong coordination among aviation personnel and reinforced the importance of resilient communication systems that support the continuity of air traffic services.

Discussions during the luncheon also allowed stakeholders to raise operational concerns and share experiences with interference challenges in the broadcast environment, supporting ongoing dialogue between regulators and service providers on maintaining reliable spectrum use for critical national services.

Stakeholders reflected on the impact of Hurricane Melissa on Jamaica’s telecommunications infrastructure, acknowledging that while the storm had certain vulnerabilities, it also highlighted the sector’s commitment to restoring essential communication services during a challenging period for national infrastructure.