The Rwanda Utilities and Regulatory Authority (RURA) issued the latest guidelines on the use and operation of short-range devices.

Guidelines 008/G/R/SM-ICT/RURA/2019 of 15/11/2019

These guidelines provide the operational requirements, technical limits, and regulatory considerations that are related to the use of SRDs in the allocated frequency bands which are also listed in the guidelines.

These guidelines apply to the use of SRDs in Rwanda and covers the following most common types of SRDs applications:

• Telemetry
• Telecommand
• Broadband Radio Local Area Network
• Telemetry
• Voice and video
• Broadband radio local area networks
• Road transport and traffic telematics
• Equipment for detecting movement and equipment for alert
• Alarms
• Inductive applications
• Radio microphones
• RFID
• Ultra-low-power active medical implant
• Wireless audio applications

The use of SRDs is license exempted unless specified otherwise; however, all SRDs must be type-approved by the regulatory authority. The frequencies, transmitting power and external high-gain antenna of these radio apparatus must not be altered without prior approval by the regulatory authority.

The followings are also defined in the guidelines:

• Conditions of operation of SRDs
• Marking requirements
• Technical requirements
• Spectrum allocations
• Emission masks for the SRDs
• Interference mitigation
• Type approval requirements
• Breach of the guidelines

This regulation has been in effect as of November 15, 2019. Any existing user of SRDs not complying with these guidelines should ensure they are compliant as per these guidelines.