Extending spectrum transfer to the maritime and satellite earth station sectors

This document outlines our decision following the consultation on “Extending spectrum transfer to the maritime and satellite earth station sectors” that we opened on 2 December 2011.

The 2011 consultation set out proposals to permit the transfer of maritime and satellite earth station licences to a third party (spectrum transfer).

We received four non-confidential responses to the 2011 consultation. The nonconfidential respondents are listed in Annex 1 of this document and copies of the responses are available on our website. We have given consideration to the comments which were raised and these are addressed in Section 2 of this document. After evaluating the responses we have decided to go ahead with our proposals to make maritime and satellite earth station licences transferable. We have however made a minor change to our proposal in relation to partial transfers for Satellite earth station network licences.

This decision will permit maritime and satellite earth station licensees to transfer their spectrum rights outright or in part in some instances, once regulations have been made. The changes will allow licensees the flexibility to transfer unused/ underused elements of their spectrum holdings to a third party who could make use of it. However, this decision does not permit the new licensee who has been transferred the rights and obligations of the licence to use spectrum for an alternative purpose. The new licensee will still be bound to the terms, conditions and restrictions of the original licence.