Radiospectrum management for non-civil purposes

hu

Without exception, the objective of radio spectrum management is to ensure the efficient, interference-free use of the radio spectrum. This field comprises two important segments: spectrum management for civilian and for non-civilian purposes. Non-civilian purposes mean that these frequencies are intended to support important government functions tasks related to national defence, law enforcement, national security, disaster management, correctional services, investigative customs and finance-related tasks and government radiocommunications. This includes radio spectrum management for military purposes, which also comprises spectrum use for allied (NATO) purposes. This area requires special (primarily military) expertise, as it is engaged in systems not applied in civilian life, such as various control and weapon management or air defence systems, special military drones or military communications and navigation systems.

The Government’s non-civil radio spectrum management tasks are carried out by the NMHH Office. The competent body is the Directorate for Defence and Law Enforcement Spectrum Management (VRFGI).

The Directorate for Defence and Law Enforcement Spectrum Management participates in the work of several international organisations. It maintains daily contact with the NATO radio spectrum management body.

History of the regulatory organisation of non-civilian frequency management

The Government’s administrative tasks related to non-civilian frequency management are carried out as follows:

Government Frequency Management Agency (KFGH) — 1994–2006

17/02/1994 – 22/12/2001: the Government Frequency Management Agency (KFGH) operated as an independent ministerial agency under the direction of the Minister of Defence
23/12/2001 – 30/06/2006: a central agency with an unchanged management structure
01/07/2006 – 31/12/2006: a central agency under the direct authority of the Government Commissioner responsible for public administration informatics

Central Office for Administrative and Electronic Public Services (KEKKH) — 2007–2010

01/01/2007 – 10/08/2010: the Government Frequency Management Office (KFGH) operated as an autonomous department of the KEKKH

National Media and Infocommunications Authority (NMHH) — from 2010

11/08/2010 – 31/12/2010: an autonomous department of the NMHH under the authority of the Director General,
01/01/2011 – 29/09/2014: under the name of Administrative Frequency Management Authority (KFGH), with an unchanged management structure,
From 30/09/2014, operating as part of the Office of the NMHH (NMHHH) — under the name of Defence and Law Enforcement Frequency Management Department until 30/09/2022, then from 01/10/2022, under the name of Defence and Law Enforcement Frequency Management Directorate.

Bodies and organisations involved in spectrum management for non-civilian purposes

Hungarian Defence Forces
National security services
- Information Office (IH)
- Constitutional Protection Office (AH)
- Military National Security Service (KNSZ)
- Special Service for National Security (NBSZ)
Law enforcement agencies
- National Defence Service (NVSZ)
- Counter-Terrorism Centre (TEK)
- Hungarian National Police Headquarters (ORFK)
- BM National Directorate General for Disaster Management (BM OKF)
- Hungarian Prison Service Headquarters (BVOP)
Customs and investigating authorities of the National Tax and Customs Administration
Government communications service provider
- National Infocommunications Services Company Ltd. (NISZ)
- Professional Mobile and Network Services Ltd. (Pro-M)
Metropolitan and County Defence Committees
Parliamentary Guard

In exercising its responsibilities and powers, VRFGI:

assesses and evaluates non-civilian frequency use needs in Hungary, Hungarian and international trends and obligations arising out of international regulations; initiates the review of national frequency allocation and spectrum use rules (the National Frequency Allocation Spectrum Use Decree) as required and makes proposals for their amendment;
conducts frequency management assessment on new radio services’ and systems’ ability to be deployed and their interaction; makes proposals for the conditions of their implementation and requirements for their use;
assesses and analyses the Hungarian context of spectrum use within the scope of the European harmonisation of frequency spectrum and provides information for the relevant international surveys;
participates in the development of civilian and non-civilian spectrum sharing, spectrum use and spectrum reallocation plans as well as the radiocommunications and radio spectrum policy;
prepares the representation of the interests of non-civilian (including NATO) spectrum use during the international activities of the Hungarian communication administration; contributes to adopting and maintenance of a national position.

Information on 7/2017. (VII. 28.) NMHH Decree (Br.)

The decree regulates the use of conformity assessment and conformity certification of the radio equipment in the non-civil spectrum management market.

16 February 2012

Information on 11/2011. (XII. 16.) NMHH Decree (Er.)

The decree regulates the installation, operation and licensing of radio stations, radio networks, radio communication systems, official regulatory control, interference elimination and data provision.

13 April 2026

Information on 12/2011. (XII. 16.) of the NMHH (Nr.)

The decree defines the order of frequency management for non-civil purposes, the related official tasks, the organizations belonging to it (non-civil users) and the tasks of the Office (VRFGI/NARFA HU).

1 October 2022

Information on 7/2015. (XI. 13.) NMHH Decree (NFFF)

The decree lays down the rules for national frequency allocation and the use of frequency bands.

9 July 2018

Administrative cases

Radio licensing, frequency assignment

Frequency assignment is an official decision authorising the licence holder to deploy radio equipment or a radio system.

A radio licence is an official decision authorising the licence holder to operate a radio system on a frequency not allocated for civilian use.

Information on the national and international frequency coordination

During the frequency assignment procedures, the VRFGI/NARFA HU initiates national and international coordination via competent department of NMHH.

Monitoring, troubleshooting, information provision

Official inspections are carried out by the inspector on site or through the reception of broadcasted signals and/or using administrative tools.

To ensure the protection of non-civilian radiocommunications, the Office (VRFGI) takes action based on reports or ex officio to eliminate interference using radio measurements.

In addition to planning, the disclosure of information also serves long-term preparation purposes. A non-public, official, non-civilian register contains information included in individual licences, frequency occupancy and technical characteristics of radio equipment.

International relations and agreements

As the directorate responsible for non-civilian radio spectrum management, VRFGI plays an important role in the NMHH’s international relations.

It is primarily involved in the work of international organisations whose activities have or may have an impact on non-civilian spectrum use in Hungary, as well as on allied (NATO) spectrum use interests.

The VRFGI’s designated experts regularly participate in the activities and work of the relevant organisations, namely the study, working and project groups of the ITU, CEPT, EDA or NATO technical groups, in order to achieve the objectives set at international level. These organisations deal with, among others, the following areas:

Developing frequency allocation plans for different radio services and applications and preparing proposals for the World Radiocommunication Conferences (WRC);
Developing issues related to European spectrum harmonisation;
Military and civil-military cooperation on radio spectrum management;
Developing a joint NATO position for the World Radiocommunication Conferences (WRC).

In the course of the above activities, the VRFGI represents the interests of non-civilian spectrum use in Hungary, taking into account the NATO common position on the issue.

The national representatives of the member states of the military alliance are responsible for promoting allied NATO spectrum use interests.

NATO activities

The NATO Civil-Military Spectrum Capability Panel (CaP 3)
The NMHH Office is the Hungarian military and civilian representative in the NATO Civil-Military Spectrum Capability Panel (CaP3).
The NATO National Radio Frequency Agency (NARFA)
The VRFGI ensures the enforcement of NATO requirements in the use of military frequencies and liaises with NATO’s central radio spectrum management body.
The NATO Joint Civil-Military Frequency Agreement (NFJA)
The NJFA defines harmonised NATO frequency bands for the uniform use of military frequencies in the European NATO member states.

International agreements

The HCM Agreement – in English
Aviation Agreement (“Agreement on the coordinated official tasks for the assignment and licensing of frequencies for air traffic purposes and the establishment of an official frequency register for air traffic purposes”)
International Radio Regulations (RR2016) – English version
Regional Arrangement on the Radiocommunication Service for Inland Waterways (RAINWAT)