Satellite earth stations

Please note our ongoing work on our mobile data strategy.

Our strategy considers the challenges that rapidly growing demand for mobile data services could raise and what this may imply for Ofcom's work over the coming years. In particular, we identify and prioritise a number of spectrum bands where we are undertaking further work regarding their potential future availability for mobile data use, whilst recognising the many other competing demands for spectrum. Our statement was published in May 2014.

We updated our strategy in June 2016 to take into account new developments such as developments in 5G technology.

Update 2 February 2018

In October 2017 we commenced the statutory process to propose variation of Permanent Earth Station licences and grants of Recognised Spectrum Access for satellite earth stations such that Ofcom would no longer take registered satellite earth stations with a receive component in the 3.6 GHz to 3.8 GHz band into account for frequency management purposes. Our update on the timing of spectrum availability (PDF, 367.6 KB) provides an update on the decisions we have taken as part of that process.

Fees for Satellite Earth Station licences (PDF, 92.2 KB)

Fees for Grant of RSA for ROES (PDF, 90.0 KB)

UK Frequency Allocations for Satellite Earth Stations (PDF, 283.0 KB)

Policy guidance regarding authorisation for Earth Stations on Vessels (ESVs) (PDF, 70.0 KB)

Due to growing interest in the use of non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) satellite networks we will be extending a number of existing satellite earth station licence products to permit operation with NGSO satellites.

This document sets out the changes Ofcom will make to the following satellite earth station licence products:

• Satellite (Earth Station Network);
• Satellite (Non-Geostationary Earth Station);
• Notice of Variation (NoV) of the Ship Radio licence for Earth Stations on Vessels (ESVs); and
• NoVs to the Ship and Aircraft Radio licences for Earth Stations On Moving Platforms (ESOMPs).

The changes will enable consumers and citizens in the UK, and on UK registered ships and aircraft, to benefit from broadband services provided by NGSO satellite networks. These networks are able to offer lower latency services than GSO satellite networks due to their lower orbit.

Read the full document (PDF, 792.0 KB).