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The ABC is one method of soft power for our Asian-Pacific brothers and sisters.
Conventional AM, FM and SW receivers are ubiquitous. For the former two, the AM and FM services a local transmitter relays the ABC signal via satellite. However, FM whose VHF carrier is line of sight may not be suitable for hilly terrains as mentioned in the story.
Then to our northern neighbours in PNG, the report that even their local services have a weak sound implying low level AM transmission informs us that for Australia to have its presence felt is to broadcast a strong signal.
The resumption of SW services may well be answer. It is more likely that a village in PNG or the Pacific Islands will have a SW-AM receiver rather than a SW-DRM receiver. DRM signals are digital and have the necessary error-correction codes transmitted as part of the content information. This should result in a cleaner reception compared to the fading in and out of the signal under conventional AM SW reception.
If the ABC was to transmit SW using DRM, then our government as part of its soft power should include subsidising the export of SW DRM receivers as part of its aid budget. It would be more efficient to transmit a few signals in SW DRM than planting AM and FM relay stations all over the Asia-Pacific region.
It is imperative that Australia maintain soft relations with its Asian-Pacific neighbours otherwise some other power will fill the void with its own agenda.
Thank you,
Anthony of exciting Belfield