afrol News, 21 August - Pemier FM, a new Senegalese radio that was suspended few hours before its launching in May this year, had won the right to broadcast, although on a different frequency. The radio hit the airwaves with a frequency of 92.3, but the state agency for regulating telecommunications and stations had allocated 105.9 to Premier FM instead.

Premier FM falls within the Avnir Communications, the publisher of three publications: Le Quotidien, Weekend and Cocorico.

Before the Senegalese officials shut off the radio, there were three truck loads of gun-wielding soldiers deployed at Avenir Communications building in Yoff, Dakar.

The General Manager and proprietor of Avenir Communications, Madiambal Diagne, told a news conference that the station would start business as soon as possible.

Mr Diagne explained how his company‘s efforts to own license to operate a private radio had been frustrated under the pretext that “the FM frequency is saturated.” this forced Avenir Communications to repurchase a company that owned a frequency 92.3 FM, much to the consternation of the radio licensing authorities, hence the suspension of the radio. The radio proprietor was accused of operating a radio without securing an authorisation.

“But we will not relent, we will not lower our arms to insist on broadcasting on 92.3,” Digane said. “It would have been better for us to have 92.3 and I don’t agree with the principle that the allocated frequency to us is a gift,” the embittered Manager invoked, leaving the rest of the challenge to the radio’s management.

Diagne emphasised his company's role to foster economic growth through dessiminating information to the public.

He said the radio will go through certain adjustments, which involves putting in place strategies for technical and communication campaign.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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