With the arrival of heat and the calm sea, radio frequencies on Madeira transform into a phenomenon known as the "Spanish and Moroccan invasion." Local broadcasters are almost always drowned out by music in Spanish and rhythms coming from the Canary Islands and North Africa, with regional broadcasts almost disappearing amid static and interference.
This phenomenon has a scientific explanation called tropospheric propagation, where layers of warm air and humidity over the ocean act like a tube that allows radio waves to travel hundreds of kilometers beyond normal. However, the main cause of the problem is the weak transmission power of regional and local radio stations on Madeira, which are limited by law.
The article warns that this situation reveals a technical fragility in the Region's radio map, which operates without the capacity to respond and keep its own frequency on the air. The author considers that ensuring a strong and stable transmitter network is not a luxury, but rather a matter of public service and local identity for an Autonomous Region with Madeira's orography.
The author calls for strengthening the power of regional broadcasters such as Ramos, Sousa, Farinha, and the National Broadcasting Service, questioning why geographical limits should exist when stations can be heard over the internet. He argues that investment in the island's coverage and protection of its radio spectrum is needed so that Madeirans do not have to rely on new devices with data packages to listen to local radio.
