Tonga amateur radio callsigns

Paul Kidd, A35RK, reports that the first special non-
resident 'contest' callsign, A31A, was just issued to a group of European operators who will be in Tonga in November, he presumes for the CQWW DX CW Contest.

Also, Paul was granted the first 'resident' special callsign,
A35A, which he will only use for contests and special events. A35RK is still his "regular" callsign.

Paul provides the following special announcement by the Department of Communications (dated September 2nd):
The Radio Licensing Officer for the Kingdom of Tonga, Fe'ao Vakata, has today approved the following changes in licensing procedures:

1) Callsigns issued to citizens and long-term residents of Tonga will be in the A35xx format.

2) A Tongan citizen or long-term resident can, upon request, be issued a "special" callsign for use in contests and special events. This "special" callsign will be in the A35x format.

3) Visiting operators will be issued an A31xx format callsign upon presentation of a valid license from their home country and payment of license fee.

4) Visiting groups of operators, for contest and special event purposes only, may request a special callsign in the A31x format. Note that, hereafter, all visitors will be issued callsigns from the newly authorized A31 prefix block.
The A35 prefix block is reserved for residents only.

Further information and license applications may be obtained from:

Fe'ao Vakata, Licensing Officer
Ministry of Communications and Information
P.O. Box 1380
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
ph: (676) 28-170
email: fvakata@pmo.gov.to
fax: (676) 24-861

OPDX