Band eang Symudol a Di-Wifr

Wireless access

Fixed wireless access (FWA) systems are a means of making fixed connections between users’ premises and telecommunication networks. They may deliver a range of electronic traffic, including telephony, high speed data, television and multimedia services.

At higher frequencies, the availability of wider bandwidths and the technical characteristics provide opportunities for delivering broadband wireless access (BWA), including as a backhaul for other telecommunications services. At frequencies in the 3 GHz band and lower where BWA has been used previously for delivering ‘last mile’ connections to user premises, developments in technologies now provide the opportunity to support mobility of user terminals within the coverage area of a BWA service.

Access technologies

There are currently a variety of access technologies that can be used for the delivery of broadband and fixed wireless access. These include, but are not limited to; WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access), LTE (Long Term Evolution), HSPA (High Speed Packet Access), WCDMA (Wide band – Code Division Multiple Access) etc.

The choice of spectrum bands for such technologies is primarily a decision for industry. Ofcom does not allocate spectrum to particular access technologies, and where a licence has been issued in a technology neutral manner, the holder of that licence will be able to make their own choice of access technology.

Ofcom’s Spectrum Information System gives information about particular spectrum bands (UKPFA) and current tradable licences (WTR), including contact details of licensees. Spectrum trading is described in the Trading Guidance Notes (PDF, 668.3 KB).

Spectrum bands

2.4 GHz

Licence-exempt short range wideband data transmission systems are permitted in the 2.4 GHz band, described in the information pages for Short Range Devices and are subject to meeting the technical requirements set out for 2.4 GHz in the UK Interface Requirement IR 2030 (PDF, 1.2 MB).

2.3 GHz, 3.4 – 3.8 GHz and 3.8 – 4.2 GHz

In 2018, Ofcom awarded licences by auction in the 2.3 (2350-2390 MHz) and 3.4 GHz (3410-3600 MHz) spectrum bands, alongside a licence already held by UK Broadband Ltd: Spectrum Access 3.5 GHz (3480-3500 MHz and 3580-3600 MHz). Details of current licences and licensees are published at Mobile and Wireless Broadband below 5 GHz.

UK Broadband also holds a Spectrum Access 3.6 GHz licence* (3600-3680) in the adjacent spectrum band. On 28 October 2019 Ofcom published a consultation on the process to award the remaining spectrum in the 3600-3800 MHz band (and 700 MHz band). The auction is expected to take place from Spring 2020.

These bands are harmonised across Europe for mobile broadband and are likely to be used for 4G and 5G services.

Launched in December 2019, spectrum is also available in the 2390-2400 MHz and 3.8 – 4.2 GHz bands (among others) under the Shared Access licence.

[* UK Broadband’s 3.6 GHz licence also includes spectrum in the 3.9 GHz (3925-4009 MHz) band]

5 GHz

Licence-exempt short range wireless access systems and radio local area networks are permitted at low power levels in the 5 GHz Bands A, B and C (5150-5350 MHz, 5470-5725 MHz & 5725 – 5850 MHz), described in the information pages for Short Range Devices subject to meeting the technical requirements set out for 5 GHz WAS/RLAN in the UK Interface Requirement IR 2030 (PDF, 1.2 MB).

Licences are also available for Fixed Wireless Access in 5.8 GHz Band C (5725 – 5850 MHzon a non-exclusive basis at higher power than the exempt devices level. Details of the licensing process can be found at: 5.8 GHz Fixed Wireless Access.

An overview of available options in the 5 GHz bands is published in 5GHz Wireless Access Systems (PDF, 135.7 KB).

10 GHz, 28 GHz, 32 GHz & 40 GHz

In November 2000, the Radiocommunications Agency auctioned several 28 GHz Broadband Fixed Wireless Access licences. It offered licence packages of 2 x 112 MHz in each of 11 English regions, plus Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

In 2008, Ofcom auctioned spectrum suitable for Broadband Wireless Access in four frequency bands:

10 GHz Band 10.125-10.225 GHz paired with 10.475-10.575 GHz;

28 GHz Bands 27.8285-28.4445 GHz paired with 28.8365-29.4525 GHz;

32 GHz Band 31.815-33.383 GHz; and

40 GHz Band 40.5-43.5 GHz.

Details of the award process are in the awards archive on our website at 10 - 40 GHz Award.

This award included the remaining unsold 28 GHz packages and, following a consultation process in 2013, most of the licence packages from the original award have been liberalised (PDF, 510.3 KB) in order to align their operating and technical conditions with those from the 2008 award.

Jan 2020

Frequency and technical information

Frequency bands licensed for Mobile and Wireless Broadband
800 MHz	791 – 821 MHz	832 – 862 MHz
900 MHz	880 – 915 MHz	925 – 960 MHz
1400 MHz	1452 – 1492 MHz
1800 MHz	1710 – 1781.7 MHz	1805 – 1876.7 MHz
Concurrent Spectrum Access	1781.7 – 1785 MHz	1876.7 – 1880 MHz
2100 MHz	1920 – 1980 MHz	2110 – 2170 MHz
2100 MHz	1900 – 1920 MHz
2300 MHz	2350 – 2390 MHz
2600 MHz	2500 – 2570 MHz	2620 – 2690 MHz
2600 MHz	2570 – 2620 MHz
3.4 GHz	3410 – 3600 MHz
3.6 GHz	3605 – 3689 MHz	3925 – 4009 MHz
10 GHz	10.125 – 10.225 GHz	10.475 – 10.575 GHz
28 GHz Spectrum Access	27.8285 – 28.4445 GHz	28.8365 – 29.4525 GHz
32 GHz	31.815 – 32.571 GHz	32.627 – 33.383 GHz
40 GHz	40.5 GHz – 43.5 GHz

Interface requirements, co-ordination and coverage documents

Interface requirements

Coordination documents

Mobile

Spectrum Allocations

International co-ordination MOUs

Memoranda of Understanding on frequency co-ordination

Fees for WT Act licences

Ofcom is responsible for authorising civil use of the radio spectrum and achieves this by granting wireless telegraphy licences under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006 (the “WT Act”) and by making regulations exempting users of particular equipment from the requirement to hold such a licence. Under section 12 of the WT Act we must prescribe in regulations (see ‘Reference Information’ section below) the sums payable in respect of wireless telegraphy licences other than those awarded by auction.

Administered Incentive Pricing (AIP) and cost-based fees

The WT Act enables us to recover the cost of managing WT Act licences by prescribing regulations under section 12 but, under section 13, it also permits the use of market mechanisms. For non-auctioned spectrum, the WT Act permits us to use Administered Incentive Pricing (AIP) and cost based fees. Ofcom has published information about its policy and methodology for such fees.

Mobile cellular fees

Most mobile spectrum licences are still within the initial periods granted under award processes and are not subject to further spectrum fees until these periods expire.

However, spectrum in the 900 and 1800 MHz frequency bands that was licensed before the use of spectrum auctions is subject to annual payment of spectrum fees. In 2010, the Government directed Ofcom to revise the fees for 900 MHz and 1800 MHz spectrum licences to reflect the full market value of those frequencies. Since then some spectrum in the 3 GHz band has also become subject to fees.

Ofcom consulted in June 2018 on Annual Licence Fees for 900 MHz and 1800 MHz frequency bands and in December 2018 on Annual Licence Fees for 3.4 GHz and 3.6 GHz spectrum, which have now been implemented.

Channel Islands and Isle of Man

The fees payable in respect of Wireless Telegraphy Act licences granted by Ofcom in Crown Dependencies are also set out in the licence charges regulations. Other non-WT charges that may be set by the Channel Island Competition and Regulatory Authorities (CICRA), the Isle of Man Communications Commission or any of the island Governments are outside Ofcom’s remit and enquiries should be directed to the relevant authority concerned.

Other fees

Under the Communications Act 2003, administrative charges for the Networks and Services sector may also be payable, as set out in Ofcom’s Tariff Tables 2020/21 (PDF, 436.9 KB).

Reference information

Channel Islands and Isle of Man

Spectrum

The use of spectrum in the Channel Islands and Isle of Man is governed by UK legislation that has been extended to Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man. The licensing of spectrum, in the UK and in these Crown Dependencies, is carried out by the Office of Communications (Ofcom), by virtue of the powers given to it by the Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006 (WTA) and the Communications Act 2003, as and to the extent that these Acts are extended to the respective islands.

In addition, Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between the UK and other countries set out coordination criteria for the radio spectrum bands in order to reduce the likelihood of interference across borders.

For a number of radio categories including business radio and fixed links, licensing in the Crown Dependencies is managed by Ofcom as a routine process alongside the licensing of such categories in the UK.

Channel Islands / Isle of Man regulators

However for commercial applications such as mobile cellular and broadband wireless, telecommunications and competition regulation falls to local regulators. For the Isle of Man this is the Communications Commission (http://www.iomcc.im/); for the Channel Islands this is the Channel Islands Competition and Regulatory Authorities (CICRA - http://www.cicra.gg) comprising the Jersey Competition Regulatory Authority (JCRA) and the Guernsey Competition and Regulatory Authority (GCRA - formerly the Office of Utility Regulation).

Licence Awards

Those who wish to supply commercial radio communications services need first to apply to the relevant island regulator which will consider the application and whether there is a need either to consult or, sometimes depending of the result of consultation, to hold a competitive award for spectrum. The regulator will then make its recommendation for spectrum licensing to Ofcom. Where Ofcom judges the recommendation to be consistent with its statutory duties, a licence may then be granted subject to payment of the appropriate spectrum fee.

Spectrum trading

Channel Islands and Isle of Man licences are not currently tradable.

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