Panama: First exam for radio amateurs after 13 years
The Ministry of Government (Mingob), through the Directorate of Social Communication Media, held the first exam session for aspiring radio amateurs on Monday, November 17. This move aims to regularize the situation for approximately 200 people who have been waiting for this process since 2012.
Among the participants were members of the National System for Civil Protection (Sinaproc), the Panama Fire Corps, and the National Police, as well as representatives from other institutions.
Mr. Lewis noted that this Directorate of Social Communication Media initiative seeks to ensure that aspiring radio amateurs acquire the necessary knowledge for amateur radio in general. With the appropriate license and equipment, it is possible to establish contact with people in the most isolated locations, using high-frequency bands.
«It is a direct form of communication that does not require signal towers or service providers, making it extremely useful in remote areas or during disaster events,» he emphasized.
Globally, radio amateurs are considered vital in natural disaster situations, as they can provide effective communication when all other systems have collapsed.
To obtain the license, each aspirant must pass a test on technical and theoretical knowledge.
69 Aspirants Examined and Future Tests
Henry Lewis, president of the Panama Canal Amateur Radio Association and a member of the National Board of the Amateur Radio Association, detailed that a total of 69 new aspiring radio amateurs took the exam, which was free of charge.
In addition to this first call, the Directorate will apply the exam in three other locations before the end of 2025:
• November 27: Governorate of Coclé • December 4: Governorate of Chiriquí • December 19: Governorate of Colón
Advantages of Amateur Radio in the Digital Age
Despite the significant technological development, amateur radio retains several advantages over other means of communication. Its main strength lies in that it operates without depending on mobile phone or internet infrastructure.
He highlighted the importance of preparation in the face of a natural disaster, given that radio amateurs represent the «last bastion in the communication chain». Approximately 200 aspirants across the country were waiting for this process since 2012, the last time the exam was administered.
