Wireless technologies are transforming the way we live, work, and connect. From mobile phones connecting to a satellite when in an area without coverage, to drones delivering vital supplies to rural communities, innovation in wireless technology is creating new opportunities to drive economic growth, improve public services, and solve real-world challenges. At the heart of this innovation is access to radio spectrum.
The radio spectrum is a finite resource. As the UK’s spectrum regulator, Ofcom has a key statutory role under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006 and Communications Act 2003 in ensuring that spectrum is available in ways that support innovation and growth while safeguarding this valuable national resource and promoting its efficient use.
We have a strong track record of enabling new wireless services, with recent examples including enabling satellite direct-to-device (D2D) services, Shared Access licensing for private networks, and consulting on sharing in the 6 GHz band between Wi-Fi and mobile services. We also currently issue over 750 Innovation and Trial licences each year. These licences are intended to allow the testing and trial of new products and radio equipment. As wireless technologies evolve and demand for spectrum increases, we want to ensure that our licensing framework remains fit for the future and continues to support innovation, investment and growth.
Through this Call for Input (CFI), we want to hear from innovators, researchers, spectrum users, and other stakeholders about what Ofcom should do next to support wireless innovation and help the UK remain a leading place to develop, trial, and deploy new wireless technologies.
What we are proposing – in brief
This Call for Input (CFI) asks for your views on how our licensing framework could be improved to better support the innovative use of radio spectrum. We are interested in your views on several key areas where challenges may arise. These include:
• whether our current licensing framework for supporting spectrum innovation remains effective in a rapidly evolving environment;
• identifying any barriers that may hinder the research, development, testing and deployment of innovative wireless technologies; and
• exploring how our licensing approach could evolve to better support innovation while continuing to ensure efficient spectrum use and protection for existing users.
Your response will feed into our review of innovation licensing, which is considering how our spectrum licensing framework can support the development of innovative wireless technologies for the future.
Responding to this Call for Input
Please submit responses using the response form no later than 5pm 30 September 2026.