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Where can I access information about tradable spectrum licences?

Ofcom will be publishing a number of online databases in order to provide as much relevant information to the market as it can. These registers will be accessible on Ofcom’s Spectrum Licensing Portal.

Ofcom’s Spectrum Licensing Portal (the Portal)is the online system that provides a range of information about spectrum licences and authorisations that is useful to spectrum users interested in trading. The Portal has been designed to facilitate access to a wide range of detailed information in a simple and accessible way.

Spectrum Licensing Portal.
Please see 'Related Items'.

What information can I find on the Spectrum Licensing Portal?

There are three inter-related online registers available on the Spectrum Licensing Portal :

• The UK Plan for Frequency Authorisation (UK PFA) provides contextual information about which frequencies are available for assignment, for what purposes the different frequencies have been allocated and whether these can be traded.
• The Wireless Telegraphy Act Register (WTR) provides basic information about individual licences such as contact names and address details, class of licence, band(s) of frequencies and where appropriate geographic area of operation. At present information is limited to the classes that became tradable in December 2004.
• The Trade Notification Register (TNR) displays details of proposed trades notified to Ofcom, trades in progress and completed trades.

Whilst each of these registers may be accessed independently, users may find that the best way to use the Spectrum Licensing Portal is to access the UK PFA first and then link to the other registers as appropriate.

What changes have been made to the UK Plan for Frequency Authorisation?

The UK Plan for Frequency Authorisation (UK PFA) includes general information about licence classes, their terms and conditions and application procedures. This online register is searchable by frequency range or licence product. A search functionality has been added, allowing users to search for tradable spectrum only. The UK PFA has been further enhanced by the provision of links for each class to provide additional contextual information, which may assist parties carrying out due diligence on particular licences. Additional information typically includes the following data:

• Licence Application forms and guidance;
• Information sheets;
• Notices;
• Technical information;
• Fees information.

Section 153 of the Communications Act requires the production of a Frequency Plan to make it clear which frequencies and licence classes are available for assignment and for what purposes different frequencies have been allocated.

Communications Act 2003
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/radiocomms/ifi/trading/legislation/

A Statement on Spectrum Trading ( 6 August 2004 ) – Section 7.
Please see 'Related Items'.

UK PFA (Plan for Frequency Authorisation).
Please see 'Related Items'.

What kind of information can I get from the Wireless Telegraphy Act Register?

The Wireless Telegraphy Act Register (WTR) provides basic information about licensees, such as names, contact details, class of licence, the band(s) of frequencies and, where appropriate, the geographical area of operation.

More detailed information which may be of interest to a potential party of a transfer such as details about revocation notices (for example, when Ofcom proposes to revoke for non payment of licence fees or for breach of a licence condition), whether licensees are acting in breach of licence terms or have paid all licence fees at the time when they were due are not included on the WTR.

The register is not conclusive evidence of title. Ofcom has taken reasonable steps to provide accurate information, however, Ofcom has had to strike a balance between creating a register quickly to facilitate trading and undertaking extensive checks on the completeness and accuracy of current information held by Ofcom. Thus the completeness and accuracy of the information included in the register cannot be guaranteed. Hence, Ofcom does not accept responsibility for the completeness and/or accuracy of the data contained in the register.

Ofcom will work with licensees and will provide to them confirmations in response to standard due diligence questions about particular licences (see ‘due diligence’ section 6). Ofcom recognises the importance of being able to ask and receive responses to these questions at an early stage. Potential transferees may prefer not to expend significant amounts of time, effort and capital prior to obtaining Ofcom’s responses to such questions from the Licensee.

The Wireless Telegraphy (Register) Regulations 2004 enable Ofcom to establish and maintain a register of relevant information (e.g. the WTR) and prescribes the relevant information. Section 170 of the Communications Act makes a provision for Ofcom to establish such a register by regulations.

Communications Act 2003
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/radiocomms/ifi/trading/legislation/

The Trading Regulations – Wireless telegraphy (Spectrum Trading) Regulations December 2004
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/radiocomms/ifi/trading/legislation/

A Statement on Spectrum Trading ( 6 August 2004 ) – Section 7.
Please see 'Related Items'.

WTR (WT Act Register).
Please see 'Related Items'.

Aren’t there security concerns with information on the WTR?

In order to address security concerns raised in relation to the point to point fixed links class, information on the geographic location of fixed links will not be published on the WTR, at least during the first year of trading. Ofcom will however operate a helpline facility through which it will be possible to obtain appropriate and relevant geographic information to facilitate trading in fixed links.

The Trading Regulations – Wireless telegraphy (Spectrum Trading) Regulations December 2004
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/radiocomms/ifi/trading/legislation/

How do I get more information on fixed links?

The Ofcom fixed links unit offer a facility to support the register that can provide more information on the geographical location of fixed links. To use the facility contact Ofcom on 020 7981 3178 or by email at fws@Ofcom.org.uk and provide us with details of the geographical area for which you are interested in acquiring a link.

Ofcom will search its licensing database for all fixed links terminating in the desired areas. Ofcom will then provide, for these links, the identity of licensees and relevant link identifier codes (by which a licensee can identify a specific link). It will be the responsibility of the enquirer to contact the current licensee.

Will information on the WTR be expanded further?

Information currently available is limited to the classes that are tradable in 2004. However, Ofcom will keep this situation under review and will continue to consider what information to make available on the WTR. Ofcom intends to provide more information over the next two years, by widening the information to other classes and by adding greater detail to specific licence classes. Any changes will need to be reflected in amendments to these regulations and any such amendments will be made following a consultation exercise.

The Trading Regulations – Wireless telegraphy (Spectrum Trading) Regulations December 2004
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/radiocomms/ifi/trading/legislation/

WTR (WT Act Register).
Please see 'Related Items'.

What kind of information can I find on the Trade Notification Register?

The Trade Notification Register (TNR) displays information about proposed transfers notified to Ofcom, trades in progress and completed trades. In general, transfers are captured on the TNR in different stages:

• ‘being processed’: proposed transfers that have been notified to Ofcom;
• “consent granted”: Ofcom has consented to the trade;
• ‘completed’: effected transfers that are approved by Ofcom
• ‘trade not completed’: transfers that have not been completed (due to for example trade parties withdrawing or Ofcom not consenting to the trade)

The publication of trading information enables interested parties to find out about the number of transactions that have taken place and the spectrum which is being traded. The information contained on the TNR includes basic details of the licences being traded, details of the transferee and transferor, and a description of which rights under the licence are proposed to be transferred (partial or all). Once a transfer has been completed the information will remain on the web site for one year. After this time the information will be archived and available upon request.

The TNR meets the requirement under the EC’s Authorisation Directive to make information about spectrum trades public. Publication of information about proposed and effected transfers is set out in the Trading Regulations 8(2) and 8(6).

Authorisation Directive 2002/20/EC
http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/pri/en/oj/dat/2002/l_108/l_10820020424en00210032.pdf

The Trading Regulations – Wireless telegraphy (Spectrum Trading) Regulations December 2004
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/radiocomms/ifi/trading/legislation/

A Statement on Spectrum Trading ( 6 August 2004 ) – Section 7.
Please see 'Related Items'.

TNR (Trade Notification Register).
Please see 'Related Items'.

Will Ofcom charge for searching these registers?

The three online registers available on Ofcom’s Spectrum Licensing Portal are free of charge. However, if searchers wish to request paper copies then Ofcom may charge a fee to cover the additional cost of any such provision.

Will any reports be published that monitor the spectrum market?

Ofcom intends that information published in the three online registers (UK PFA, WTR, TNR) will form the main sources for public monitoring of the market. They will also form the core source of Ofcom’s own monitoring of the market.

From time to time Ofcom may publish trend data on the trading market, based on both the registers and any voluntary information gathered from the market – provided that individual anonymity and confidentiality can be preserved. This might, for example, involve publications of aggregated figures which hide individual transaction values and details. For example, the annual Communications Market reports include a section with information on the spectrum market.

Ofcom considers that this approach will provide a basic set of information to facilitate the development of spectrum trading markets. Ofcom also considers that it will leave scope for the private sector to potentially develop value added spectrum trading information services, including market monitoring services.

A Statement on Spectrum Trading ( 6 August 2004 ) – Section 7.
Please see 'Related Items'.

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