Rebroadcasting of unauthorised TV Channels

The Office of the Telecommunications, Radiocommunications and Broadcasting Regulator (TRBR) would like to remind all broadcasters in Vanuatu of their requirements pursuant to Order No.73 of 2020 to must provide information’s to the TRBR on any agreement, contract and subscriptions including free to air agreement (s) between any national or international broadcasting operators for re-broadcasting through its network.

Order No.73 of 2020 item 3 provides that “…A Broadcasting Licensee in Vanuatu must not broadcast or re-broadcast content, or signals or channels, either paid or free to air, if he or she does not have the necessary agreements, contracts.

Furthermore, any local broadcasting operator found to be broadcasting any Free to Air content or paid content without any written agreement with parties distributing the content or content provider is seen illegal and breach of the Order 73 of 2020, and further in breach of Copyright and Related Rights Act No. 42 of 2000.

The office of the TRBR and VanIPO are conducting a joint investigation into illegal rebroadcasting and those found illegally broadcasting or rebroadcasting contents will be dealt with according to the Acts administered by the two institutions.

Further queries in relation to this notice can be communicated by calling TRBR office on (+678) 27621 or email: enquiries@trbr.vu

Notice to Satellite Providers and User, And Holders and Users of Apparatus

The Office of the Telecommunications, Radiocommunications, and Broadcasting Regulator is mandated to regulate the telecommunications and broadcasting industry by the Telecommunications Radiocommunications, and Broadcasting Regulation Act No.30 of 2009 as amended by the Amendment 22 of 2018 (the Act).

The Office of the TRBR’s wishes to inform and remind all persons, that the TRBR Regulates and monitors the telecommunications and broadcasting Industry and as such must ensure that all persons comply with the Act. Therefore, the TRBR gives notice to the following:

A) Satellite operators who provide telecom or broadcasting satellite services are required to have a valid license or exception to operate in Vanuatu.

B) Satellite operators MUST ensure that details of their license are updated and renewed annually and must be displayed in their premises or their agent’s premises in Vanuatu.

C) Satellite operators MUST have a local presence or agent in Vanuatu and be legally registered with all appropriate authorities such as Vanuatu Foreign Investment Promotion Agency, Vanuatu Customs and Inland Revenue, Vanuatu Financial Service Commission and ensure that you comply with all legislative requirements of the Republic of Vanuatu, to be able to provide telecommunications and broadcasting (satellite) services.

D) All satellite users in the Republic of Vanuatu must ensure that their installed satellite equipment has a valid apparatus license issued by TRBR.

E) If a satellite user is aware of a satellite provider that is providing satellite services in Vanuatu without a valid license, they must inform TRBR immediately.

F) Radio Apparatus license holders who are using the following services listed below, whose license have not been renewed for 2021 and operators who have not been issued with a Radio Apparatus license for 2021, to come forward and sort out their apparatus license.

🔹 Aeronautical Services
🔹 Aircraft Services
🔹 Amateur Services
🔹 Broadcasting Services
🔹 Maritime Services
🔹 Land Mobile Services and
🔹 Satellite (VSAT) Services

Office Closure Notice

The Office of the Telecommunications, Radiocommunications and Broadcasting Regulator (TRBR) wish to inform its valuable stakeholders and customers that our Office in Port Vila and Luganville, Santo will be closed from

1pm, Friday 24 December 2021 to Friday 31 December 2021

for Christmas and New Year celebration.

We will open our doors again on Monday 03 January 2022.

For urgent matters, call us on telephone (678) 27621

or email: enquiries@trbr.vu

Compliance Notice for Radio Apparatus Licensees and Users

The Office of the Telecommunications, Radiocommunications and Broadcasting Regulator (TRBR) is mandated to regulate the telecommunications and broadcasting industry by the Telecommunications Radiocommunications and Broadcasting Regulation Act No. 30 of 2009 as amended by Amendment 22 of 2018 (the Act).

Part 2, Section 8, Of the Act provides the Regulator with the powers of Information Gathering, Section 8 ,1 (a)(b)(c) of the act states that:

(1).    If the Regulator believes that a person has information or documents relevant to the exercise of any of the Regulator’s powers or functions, the Regulator may require the person to:
(a).    produce such documents; and
(b).    make copies of such documents for the Regulator; and (c). require the service provider to furnish such information.

Part 3, section 12, of the Act provides the requirements to hold a licence, section 12(2)
(i) of the Act states that:

2). A person must not install or operate a radiocommunications device in Vanuatu or its territorial waters or airspace, or in any ship or aircraft registered in or under the law of Vanuatu, except:
(i). under and in accordance with a licence or exception;

Pursuant to the Act, TRBR wishes to inform and remind all Radio Apparatus Licence Holders of radio equipment’s about their obligation to have their Radio Apparatus Licensees for 2022 renewed. This includes radio equipment’s which are installed on-board marine vessels, aircraft and on land, and whose licenses have not yet been renewed for 2022 of their obligations to have their radio licenses renewed as soon as possible and no later than 31st March 2022.

Operators who are using the following services listed below but have not been issued with a Radio Apparatus Licence, TRBR is kindly asking that you come forward and sort out your licence as soon as possible, no later than 31st March 2022. TRBR is taking necessary steps to ensure all users of the services listed are operating legally in Vanuatu.
•    Aeronautical Services
•    Aircraft Services
•    Amateur Services
•    Broadcasting Services
•    Maritime Services
•    Land Mobile Services and
•    Satellite (VSAT) Services

The operators who are using these services but fail to inform TRBR by 31st March 2022,
will be subjected to Section 9 which states:

9 Equipment inspection
(1)    If the Regulator reasonably believes that any person has in their control or is using any equipment contrary to this Act or a Regulation, the Regulator may:
(a)    search any premises, vehicle, ship or aircraft for the equipment and may be accompanied by a police officer; and
(b)    inspect, take photographs, or make sketches of the equipment; and
(c)    operate the equipment, if necessary, to ascertain its nature or the manner of its use.

(2).    No compensation is payable in respect of the exercise or purported exercise by the Regulator of any power in this section, except that reasonable compensation is to be paid for any loss or damage to equipment which results from the negligence of the Regulator.

Please note that Failure to provide accurate information may result in the inspections being carried out and penalties may be applied pursuant to section 46 (3) under Telecommunication Radiocommunications Broadcasting Regulator Act No 30 as amended by Amendment 22 0f 2018 and other amendments.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

Dear Valuable Customers,

As we are in Level 2 scenario for COVID 19 in Efate and Offshore Islands, the Office of the Telecommunications, Radiocommunications and Broadcasting Regulator (TRBR) wish to advise that the TRBR Office in Port Vila will be closed today Monday 07 March 2022 until further notice. TRBR Office in Luganville Santo will operate as normal.

Our staffs are working remotely to ensure that we maintain the same level of service to our customers therefore for urgent matters, please call (678) 27621 or email enquiries@trbr.vu

We will advise you in the coming days on our way forward with new opening hours.

Thank you for your understanding.

  1. IMPORTANT NOTICE
  2. TRBR Complaint Handling Procedure
  3. The CTG extension notice
  4. We are Open
  5. Office Closure
  6. Public Notice – Starlink Operations in Vanuatu
  7. Public Notice – Compulsory SIM Registration
  8. Office Closure Notice - TC Judy
  9. Notice: Bluetooth Exemption on ICT and RTTE Imported Devices
  10. Starlink Registration, QOS and Coverage audit and Complaint handling Procedure notice

Page 6 of 9

Public Register