By the end of last year, Ministry of Communication and Digital of Indonesia (KOMDIGI) issued a new technical regulation called KEPMEN KOMDIGI NO 619 TAHUN 2024. This is a regulation which becomes the technical reference for Microwave Links telecommunication devices in Indonesia. Considering that microwave link is one of the most important radio technologies in our live, we think it’s necessary to pay a little more attention and talk specifically about this new regulation.
Microwave Link Technology: What it is, and why does it matter?
Every time we look up to BTS (Base Station Transceiver) tower, we may see many drum-like devices that is fixed to the top of it. Some of us may think that’s an antenna. But we don’t know specifically what type of antenna it is, and what’s the function of it. To answer this question, let’s get deep down into the explanation of Microwave Link technology, because most likely what we saw up there in the BTS tower, are microwave’s outdoor Unit (ODU) and its antennas.
As its name, microwave is a wireless communication technology using micro radio wave transmission to send data from one location to another in high speed. The transmission is sent directly from a transmitter device to the receiver device in a line-of-sight. It means that the transmitter and receiver must be placed in a straight line, facing one and another. So, the microwave signal can be transmitted directly from the transmitter to the receiver end.
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What’s good about Microwave is that this technology is easy to adapt to the surrounding environment. This is possible because the micro radio wave used is broadband. This enables microwave to pass through the obstacle such as rain, fog, or even snow while at the same time still maintains the stable transmission. Besides, microwave also offers high speed data transmission and the ability to transmit data in big capacity. Not to mention, the longer and wider coverage it has.
With the characteristics above, microwave links are suitable for various use. For example, it can be used in the cellular communication, as a backhaul to connect between BTS and BSC. That’s why we often see the drum-like devices, a.k.a. microwave antenna, are placed on top of the BTS tower owned by network operators.
Components in Microwave Link Technology
There are several components involved in order to establish microwave link communication. Simply, we can classify it into 5l the Indoor Unit (IDU), Outdoor Unit (ODU), Antenna, Waveguide, and Tower. Indoor unit (IDU) is usually placed indoor, or in the building. This is the component that serves as the modem and FEC (Forward Error Correction).
Whereas outdoor unit (ODU), it is placed outdoor, usually on top of the tower, close to the antenna. This unit is supplied by the IDU through coaxial cable connection between them. In the transmitter side, the outdoor unit will convert the low frequency modulated digital signal received from the IDU to high frequency. Then, this signal will be transmitted by the antenna to the opposite end.
In the receiver side, after the signal is received by the antenna, it will pass through Low Noise Amplifier (LNA). It will amplify and strengthen the signal before passing through automatic Gain Control (AGC). AGC is used to make sure the signal frequency when it’s received by the receiver. Whereas the antenna, the role is obvious. It transfers electromagnetic energy from the free space to the transmission link, and vice versa. Waveguide is used to minimize loss during the transmission, while tower is needed to support the antennas and Outdoor Units.
KEPMEN KOMDIGI NO 619 TAHUN 2024
KEPMEN KOMDIGI NO 619 TAHUN 2024 is the new regulation issued by Communication and Digital Ministry (KOMDIGI) of Indonesia on December 10th, 2024. This regulation is about the Technical Standard of Microwave Link Telecommunication Devices. Chapter 2 of this new regulation talks specifically about the technical standards of Microwave Link Device, which can be resumed as below:
- Power Supply Requirements: Microwave Links telecommunication device can be supplied by AC or DC power.
- Electrical Requirements: Microwave Links telecommunication device must comply with SNI IEC 60950-1:2016, IEC 60950-1, SNI IEC 62368-1:2014, or IEC 62368-1
- Electromagnetic Compatibility Requirements: Microwave Links telecommunication device must comply with SNI CISPR 32:2015, IEC CISPR 32, or ETSI EN 301 489-1 v2.1.1 or the newer edition of it, or ETSI EN 301 489-4 v3.1.1 or the newer edition of it.
- Radio Frequency Requirements
- Maximum Output power in accordance with Clause 5.2.1 ETSI EN 302 217-2 and/or Clause 5.2.1 ETSI EN 301 126-1;
- Spectrum Mask in accordance with Clause 5.2.3 ETSI EN 302 217-2 and/or Clause 5.2.6 ETSI EN 301 126-1;
- Transmitter unwanted emissions in the spurious domain according to Clause 5.2.5 of ETSI EN 302 217-2, Clause 6 of ETSI EN 301 390 and/or Clause 5.2.9 of ETSI EN 301 126-1. Reference Bandwidth according to Annex 6 of Recommendation ITU-R SM.329-12; and
- BER as a function of receiver input signal level RSL according to clause 5.3.2 of ETSI EN 302 217-2 and/or clause 5.3.3.1 of ETSI EN 301 126-1
For more detail information about the requirements of Microwave telecommunication device, you can check it in the English translation of KEPMEN KOMDIGI NO 619 TAHUN 2024 below.
If you want to check out the original source of KEPMEN KOMDIGI NO 619 TAHUN 2024 from the KOMDIGI website, you may check it in this KOMDIGI Regulation Database. Moreover, as mentioned on the 7th dictum of this regulation, KEPMEN KOMDIGI NO 619 TAHUN 2024 already came into force since November 18th, 2024.
Lastly, if you are manufacturer, importer, or distributor of Microwave link equipment that will export the equipment to Indonesia, you need to pay attention to this regulation. For sure, before export, the equipment is mandatory to be certified by DJID first. This certification procedure is done to make sure that the equipment complies with the KEPMEN KOMDIGI NO 619 TAHUN 2024 and won’t cause any interference to other telecommunication technologies. So, if you and you have any inquiry or questions regarding this certification process, feel free to drop an email to info@narmadi.com. We’d be more than happy to assist.
