In the early days of broadcasting, stations used from about 100kHz (a huge German station dona t the LF end) right up thru what eventually became the 'Beacon band". Once stability was better, LW was contracted to the area around 150 - 280 kHz, but countries in Western Europe avoided the higher 2 or 3 channels, leaving them clear for marine beacons. This became obsolete in the late 60s, and in the 1990s we felt it was time the unused 261, 270 and 279 were brought into use. Only a very few ancient receivers didn't hear them. New broadcasters were being suppressed with the "no frequencies available" lies andold Tosh, so 279 was a step around that. We knew Tunis didn't use their allocation and the Belaruss station was almost inaudible in the west.

(Today, if launching a LW station I would ask for 153, simply due to the enhanced coverage).