Radiocommunications licences

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To use any radio transmitting device in the UK, it will need to either be licensed, or have a specific licence exemption.

Information about applying for licences in the various sectors is available below.

Update 19 March 2020 – possible delays due to COVID-19

Please be advised delays may be experienced if you have submitted a Licence application or payment to the Spectrum Licensing Team through the post. This is due to our Licensing team now working remotely to help reduce the impact of the COVID-19 virus.

We are still working hard to maintain our standard service levels for all applications and enquiries submitted via email to Spectrum.Licensing@ofcom.org.uk. In addition, if you are an Amateur, Ships or Business Radio Light Licence customer you can still apply directly online using our Online Community Portal.

During these unprecedented times we recommend licence payments are made promptly via our Online Payment Portal or by sending a Bank Transfer (BACs payment) to the details provided on your invoice. We would request that you refrain from sending your payment via cheque during this time to help us avoid unnecessary licence revocations.

In addition, and to avoid delays we also recommend you update you contact preferences to email, rather than post. You can do this by contacting the Spectrum Licensing team via the above email address or online if you are a registered customer.

We would like to thank you for your cooperation and patience in advance.

Amateur radio

Business radio

Ships' radio and ship portable radio

TV white space: manually configurable white space devices

White spaces are gaps in the radio spectrum which can be used to offer wireless applications. TV white space devices (WSDs) are radio equipment which can transmit in the digital terrestrial TV band (470-790MHz) in accordance with powers and frequencies communicated by a white space database (WSDB).

A WSD may be automatically configurable or manually configurable. An automatically configurable WSD must not allow a user to modify the settings of the device and may be operated without a licence, provided that it complies with the terms of the Licence Exemption Regulations for WSDs (The Wireless Telegraphy (White Space Devices)(Exemption) Regulations 2015).

While most WSDs are expected to operate on a licence-exempt basis in the future, many do not currently meet Ofcom’s requirements for licence exemption. Ofcom has therefore authorised the licensing of manually configurable white space devices (MCWSDs) under a transitional arrangement which will bring benefits to citizens and consumers earlier than would otherwise be the case.

MCWSDs are devices which allow a user to modify the settings of the device, such as configuring the device location or the antenna gain in the device before operation. MCWSDs cannot be operated without a Wireless Telegraphy licence issued by Ofcom under the Wireless Telegraphy Act, and only if the device conforms to the requirements of the licence.

MCWSDs will be licensed on a transitional basis and Ofcom intends to review by the end of 2018 whether a licensing regime is still required.

Whether operating on a licence exempt basis or in accordance with a Wireless Telegraphy Licence, devices must only operate in accordance with operational parameters provided by a WSDB which is operated by an organisation listed in Schedule 1 of the Wireless Telegraphy (White Space Devices) (Exemption) Regulations 2015.

White space database operators

More information on white space databases

The MCWSD licence imposes a number of obligations on the licensee for the purposes of mitigating and dealing with interference. Applicants for MCWSDs licences are strongly advised to first read these guidance documents.

OfW570: Guidance for manually configurable white space devices (PDF, 355.9 KB)

How Ofcom uses information about white space devices (PDF, 30.2 KB)
This document explains how Ofcom may use information about the use of white space devices and how this may affect you if you are a device user or owner.

Application for a manually configurable white space device (PDF, 446.7 KB)

Example licence for manually configurable white space devices (PDF, 369.6 KB)

Aeronautical radio

Fixed terrestrial links

Fixed Terrestrial Links or Fixed Wireless Systems (FWS) refer to terrestrial based wireless systems, operating between two or more fixed points. Using mainly digital technologies, directional antennas and typically operating at very high levels of propagation availability fixed terrestrial links are used to provide network infrastructure and customer access applications across a wide range of frequency bands, currently ranging from 450MHz to 86GHz.

Information and applications for fixed link licences

Fixed wireless access (the 5725 – 5850 MHz band)

The Internet of Things

Maritime radio (excluding ship radio)

Maritime radio enables ship stations to communicate with each other and with shore stations, primarily for the safety of human life and the protection of vessels. Its main uses include:

Ship stations (at sea)
Coast stations (on land)
Navigation aids and radar
Automatic identification system
Search and rescue (distress, urgency and safety)

Apply for or amend a maritime radio licence

Information for maritime radio licensees

Mobile and wireless broadband

Local access

Shared access

In July 2019, we introduced a new licensing approach through spectrum sharing which provides localised access to spectrum bands that can support mobile technology. This allows more people and businesses to use spectrum from a choice of frequency bands and could support growth and innovation across a range of sectors.

We made the shared access licence available in four spectrum bands which support mobile technology:

1800 MHz band: 1781.7 to 1785 MHz paired with 1876.7 to 1880 MHz;
2300 MHz band: 2390 to 2400 MHz;
3800 to 4200 MHz band; and
24.25-26.5 GHz. This band is only available for indoor low power licences.

Two types of licences are available:

Low power licence. This authorises users to deploy as many base stations as they require within a circular area with a radius of 50 metres as well as the associated fixed, nomadic or mobile terminals connected to the base stations operating within the area.
Medium power licence. This authorises a single base station and the associated fixed, nomadic or mobile terminals connected to the base station.

Information and application for shared access licences

Innovation and trial licensing (non-operational for testing, research or demonstration)

Non-operational licensing enables the use of radio spectrum to promote the development and trialling of innovative uses of the radio spectrum in the UK.

It covers:

the testing and development of wireless telegraphy (radio) equipment;
scientific research and experimentation; and
trials and demonstrations of radio apparatus.

It does not allow any sort of commercial or operational usage.

See the innovation licensing portal for more information.

Offshore mobile

Ofcom has, in the past, issued licences to allow the use of mobile technologies on oil rigs and wind farms, in areas not covered under the territorial extent of the network operator licences, by creating bespoke one-off licences. However, with the increasing number of requests for access to spectrum offshore, it has become apparent that a standardised licence product, covering all bands, should be developed. The Spectrum Access Offshore Mobile licence covers all the ‘mobile bands’ (800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2.3 GHz and 3.4 GHz) but only for areas not covered by the rights granted to existing mobile network operators. For most licences this will be outside the 12 nautical mile limit, but for licences issued as part of the 2.3 GHz and 3.4 GHz award will cover any offshore deployments, subject to coordination with the Ministry of Defence.

This licence product authorises use of spectrum on a strictly non-protection/ non-interference basis, and licensees will have to coordinate between themselves to resolve any problems that arise. There is no restriction on the number of licences that Ofcom will issue, and none of the licences will be technically coordinated by Ofcom. This licence also requires the licensee to meet the transmission levels at the UK coast, as set out in internationally agreed coordination agreements, when deploying systems.

Application form for a Spectrum Access Offshore Mobile licence (PDF, 421.1 KB)

Programme-making and special events (PMSE)

Satellite earth stations and GNSS repeaters

Short range devices

Short Range Device (SRD) is a general term applied to various radio devices designed to operate usually on a licence-exempt basis, over short range and at low power levels.

See short range devices information sheet.

The following short range devices require a licence from Ofcom:

Ground probing radar
Radar level gauges
High duty cycle network relay points

Apply for a short range device licence.

Spectrum trading

Radiocommunications licences

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Update 19 March 2020 – possible delays due to COVID-19

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