Consultation: Future authorisation of the 1900–1920 MHz band

We are proposing to make the 1900–1920 MHz (“1900 MHz”) band available for the UK’s rail network and the emergency services, maximising the use of this spectrum and supporting long term improvements to the UK’s critical national infrastructure.

What we are proposing – in brief

• Authorise 1900–1910 MHz for operational rail communications to enable the rollout of FRMCS. The proposed new FRMCS licences would:
  • Be restricted to the provision of operational rail communications.
  • Contain technical conditions suitable for the deployment of FRMCS.
  • Require technical coordination with other existing or future FRMCS licensees in overlapping or neighbouring geographic areas.
  • Be issued via a simple process, with checks on applicants’ ability to comply with key licence conditions.
• Authorise 1910–1915 MHz to enable Emergency Services Network (ESN) gateways. The proposed licence would:
  • Be restricted to the provision of ESN gateways by the provider that is contracted by the UK Government to supply these gateways (currently BT/EE).
  • Have a fixed duration, aligned with the contract to supply ESN gateways.
  • Allow use throughout Great Britain.
  • Contain technical conditions consistent with standards used by the ESN.
• Set fees based on the opportunity cost of the spectrum. Our proposed annual fee for 1900–1910 MHz is £145,800 per MHz for a licence covering Great Britain and £4,200 per MHz for a licence covering Northern Ireland. Fees would be half these levels in 1910–1915 MHz to reflect the lower power levels permitted. This means that the total annual fee would be:
  • £1,458,000 for 1900–1910 MHz for a FRMCS licence covering Great Britain, and £42,000 for a licence covering Northern Ireland. Licences for smaller rail networks would pay a smaller fee, scaled by the length of the rail routes covered.
  • £364,500 for 1910–1915 MHz for an ESN gateway licence covering Great Britain.
• Fees would be payable from 3 April 2029 when the spectrum becomes available.

At present, we are not proposing to authorise any use in 1915–1920 MHz, primarily because of the power restrictions necessary to protect the mobile band above 1920 MHz from interference, as well as uncertainty over demand for the spectrum.

The document below outlines our proposals for authorising future users of the 1900–1920 MHz band, following our December 2023 Statement on revoking existing authorisations for this band.

Responding to this consultation

Please submit responses by using the Consultation response form by 5pm on 19 May 2025.