Unauthorized/Illegal Amateur Call from A5

Hi Bernie,

Good Morning ....

I am happy to let you know that I finally got around to talk to the person in the Spectrum & Technology Division of the BICMA (Bhutan InfoComm and Media Authority) the Regulatory Authority of the Royal Government of Bhutan who oversees all matters related to Ham/Amateur Radio operations from Bhutan. As I had anticipated, the person confirms to me that the Authority has NOT ISSUED the CallSign A50A to any one in recent times, nor ever before. Thus, he thinks that it is an illegal and unauthorized operation, without their knowledge or permission. So, in my understanding, if the call has been on the air from Bhutan .... it should be considered UNAUTHORIZED and ILLEGAL….. and if any QSO’s were issued using the Call A50A, they should be null and void. May be it is wise to inform your Members/readers - perhaps even through the ARRL.

Unauthorized amateur radio call from Bhutan (A5)

Further, for your information, according to the official records of the BICMA, I am informed that the only Calls issued so far with the prefix A50 are the following:

A50DT            GovTech, Thimphu - a technology agency established by the Royal Government of Bhutan

A50JNEC       A technical institute run by the Royal Government, Deothang

A50CST          A technical institute of the Royal Government, Phuentsholing

A50CST2        A technical institute of the Royal Government, Phuentsholing

It is possible that an inexperienced amateur from one of the above QTH could be sending out calls without using the full CallSign .... I have requested the person In-Charge at the BICMA to call up each of the above QTH and remind the operators of the proper protocol when they come on air using A5 CallSigns. 

For your information and record, in addition to the above, the following unique Calls were issued by the Royal Government of Bhutan, in appreciation of their contribution to the development of amateur/Ham radio in Bhutan:

A51A          Yasuo Miyazawa (ZORO), Japan .... since silent key

A51B          Dr. Glenn Johnson, USA

I hope this helps.

Thank You very much for contacting me with the information.

73!

Yeshey Dorji

A51AA