Ofcom Licencing & Interface Requirements

Knowledge Base Ofcom Licencing & Interface Requirements

GUIDANCE & USEFUL Ofcom Links
Some of the frequency bands for use by wireless broadband equipment in the UK require the user to obtain a license before installing /using the equipment, while others allow equipment meeting the appropriate Interface Requirements (IR) to be installed / used without having the requirement to obtain a licence.

Please check the following links for information and guidance for specific frequency bands:

2.4 GHz
(licence exempt in the band 2400 - 2483.5 MHz) can be used by equipment using wideband modulation techniques, including RLAN (e.g. 802.11 b/g WiFi) Please refer to the regulatory details for this equipment at: http://www.ofcom.org.uk/radiocomms/ifi/tech/interface_req/uk2005.pdf

2.5 GHz (2.5 - 2.69 GHz)
Ofcom have plans to licence this spectrum by auction. Although the licence conditions are largely technology neutral the type of equipment is assumed to be TDD or FDD mobile networks (e.g. WiMAX, UMTS, LTE, etc). Please refer to the regulatory details for the equipment at: http://www.ofcom.org.uk/radiocomms/ifi/tech/interface_req/ir2072.pdf .

3.5 GHz (3.4 - 3.8 GHz)
Within this spectrum range there are number of different user/uses (satellite earth stations, MoD, Home Office etc.) but from wireless access perspective there is one national license holder; who obtained the rights to the spectrum through auction; UK Broadband Ltd. This operator has the rights to deploy equipment anywhere in the UK (subject to co-ordination) and are also at liberty to trade their spectrum rights with others. Use in this band is required to meet the technical specifications in national Interface Requirement; IR2015. This is available from; http://www.ofcom.org.uk/radiocomms/ifi/tech/interface_req/2015.pdf

Please note that there is a general information sheet on 5-6 GHz wireless broadband frequency bands at: http://www.ofcom.org.uk/radiocomms/ifi/licensing/classes/rlans/5_6wbd

5.4 GHz (5470 - 5725 MHz - Band B - outdoor, fixed or mobile - licence exempt)
Please refer to the regulatory details for equipment at: http://www.ofcom.org.uk/radiocomms/ifi/tech/interface_req/uk2006.pdf

5.8 GHz (5725 - 5850 MHz - fixed - light licensed)
This band is light licensed in the UK on a non exclusive / non protected basis. Details of the licensing process and equipment conformity can be found in the 5.8 GHz FWA page on our website. (the licences have a minimum fee of £50 per annum subject to the number of terminals registered). Use in this band is required to meet the technical specifications in the national Interface Requirement IR2007. This is available (including other information on 5.8 GHz) at: http://www.ofcom.org.uk/radiocomms/ifi/licensing/classes/rlans/5.8_fwa_index/

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