Licensing updates

This update outlines our plans to change the rules on spectrum use by AMRDs. There will be no immediate change, but we will consult next year on updating the rules for AMRDs used in UK territorial waters and on UK registered ships. We recommend that stakeholders take account of the forthcoming changes when developing or purchasing new equipment.

What are AMRDs?

Autonomous Maritime Radio Devices (AMRDs) are mobile devices that operate at sea independently of a ship station or a coast station. They are used for various maritime applications, including communication, navigation, and monitoring and include equipment such as Class M Man-Overboard Digital Selective Calling (MOB DSC) devices, mobile Aids to Navigation (MAToNs), diver location devices, creel markers, and Man Overboard (MOB) Devices not using DSC.

Since 2019, AMRDs have been classified into two main categories:

• Group A AMRDs: Devices that enhance the safety of navigation.
• Group B AMRDs: Devices that do not enhance the safety of navigation but are used for other purposes (e.g. devices used for delivering signals or information which do not concern a vessel, like fishnet markers, diver location devices and some Man Overboard (MOB) personal safety alert devices without Class M DSC functionality).

UK rules will evolve in step with international developments

In 2019, the World Radio Conference agreed changes to the global rules on using AMRD equipment. These measures are intended to improve maritime safety and ensure that the latest technological advancements are incorporated into maritime communication systems.

In Europe, CEPT (European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations) has agreed how this should be implemented in ECC Decision 22(02) on AMRDs. The UK is not legally required to implement the Decision, but we intend to do so to enhance maritime safety, provide certainty for mariners, and support harmonisation across Europe.

Over time, UK spectrum rules will be updated in line with the approach set out in ECC Decision 22(02) on AMRDs so that:

• only Group A AMRDs may use the frequencies 156.525 MHz (channel 70), 161.975 MHz (AIS 1), and 162.025 MHz (AIS 2).
• Group B AMRDs and Non-Class M MOB Devices on channels AIS1 and AIS2 may no longer use these channels.
• Group B AMRDs must use the frequency 160.900 MHz (Channel 2006); further they are limited to a transmitter E.I.R.P of 100 mW and an antenna height not exceeding 1m above the sea surface.

Further detail is set out in ECC Decision 22(02) on AMRDs. Whilst this also says that in CEPT countries legacy MOB devices operating on 161.975 MHz (AIS 1) and 162.025 MHz (AIS 2) may not be permitted after 31 December 2024 we will not be implementing this change on this date.

How do I know if my equipment is group A or group B?

• Group A AMRDs include MAtoN and MOB Devices using VHF DSC (Class M).
• Group B AMRDs include devices such as MOB devices which do not use VHF DSC and diver locating devices.

Current Non-Class M MOB Devices on channels AIS1 and AIS2 are neither Group A, nor Group B.

Further detail on the technical characteristics of AMRDs can be found here.

Does this mean I have to stop using my current AMRD equipment now?

• We will implement these changes in the UK over time as follows.

Key Points for UK Licensees:

• Group A Class M Compliant AMRD Equipment is already authorised under the existing terms of the Ship Radio licence (SRL) and Ship Portable Radio Licence (SPRL). Separately, we will update our AIS Licence to enable the use of MAToNs on AIS1 and AIS2 channels.
• We will consult on proposed changes to how we authorise Group B Equipment in 2025; in the interim they remain authorised under the terms of the SRL and SPRL.
• In respect of Non-Class M MOB Devices on channels AIS 1 and AIS 2: licensees can continue to use these devices after the ECC deadline of 31/12/2024 under the terms of their SRL or SPRL. However, we will bring forward proposals in 2025 to phase out the authorisation of use of this equipment on these channels. We strongly encourage individuals considering buying or making these devices to begin the transition to equipment which complies with the standards set out in the ECC Decision.

This proposed approach to phasing in the changes takes account of typical equipment lifespan and availability. We will continue to work closely with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) throughout this process.

What are other countries doing?

Several European countries have implemented, or signalled plans to implement, this decision. For more information on implementation plans across Europe, you can visit https://docdb.cept.org/implementation/28560.

Future Review of Maritime Licensing:

We plan to conduct a wider review of our Maritime and Ship Licensing in 2025. This will include consulting on proposals to update and improve the terms and conditions of licences to streamline, simplify and provide greater clarity for licensees.

Keep up to date

To keep up to date you can sign up to receive email updates here.

The table below sets out our current expected implementation timeline for a range of spectrum licence product policy changes as well as new online functionality.

This includes latest updates on Shared Access licence (SAL) feature availability. For completeness we are listing all the SAL improvements which we have announced following our 2024 consultation and statement rounds.

We notified stakeholders in our previous update (25^th October 2024) of the impact to SAL implementation due to a delay in our licensing platform release LPE 3.0 caused by issues arising during product development. We have since been able to improve timelines for the introduction of some key SAL functionality and provide a more granular view as to availability of remaining features.  Several features are scheduled for a later incremental release LPE 3.1, as shown in the table.

We are also providing an update on the implementation timeline for our Amateur Radio licensing framework Phases 2 & 3 which were planned for December 2024 and March 2025 respectively, and which we now expect to deliver in calendar Q3’2025.

Our Licensing Platform Evolution (LPE) is part of a wider programme to streamline and automate spectrum licence provision. We will publish further updates as these arise on this dedicated webpage.

Our existing products and licensing activities continue as usual (including the current Shared Access and Amateur Radio products) and have not been impacted.  All available licence products can be applied for from our Licence portal.

A full description of policy decisions and above-mentioned new features for Shared Access is listed in our Statements of July 2024 and December 2024 and can be accessed for the Radio Amateur Framework here.

The timelines shown on this webpage reflect our updated view on availability since statement publication.

Whilst we are implementing the systems and process changes necessary to make these improvements, there may be some impact on the turnaround times on licence requests for these services mentioned and other licences that we issue. We will do our best to minimise impact on turnaround times, but we ask stakeholders to bear with us while we make these changes.

We appreciate your patience and will keep you updated on this webpage as further information becomes available.

We will be publishing the next update in January. For further information please contact spectrum.licensing@ofcom.org.uk.

We are notifying stakeholders that the implementation of the third release of our Licensing Platform Evolution (LPE 3) has been delayed due to issues that have arisen during product development. The delays have impacted the availability of our first phase of automation for shared access licences and have also delayed implementation of a few other policy decisions.  

The impacted (delayed) policy decisions include primarily those documented in:

• Updating the amateur radio licensing framework (Phases 2 and 3);
• Extending access in the 26 GHz bands for Shared Access; and
• a subset of the Proposed enhancements for Shared Access. (See detail below)

LPE 3 was originally planned for calendar Q2’2024 and is now expected to be available in calendar Q2’2025.

We are exploring options to make available mmWave Shared Access licences using a manual process early in 2025 and will provide additional updates shortly.

For the Shared Access enhancements set out in July 2024, a subset of the changes have been delayed while others have already been implemented.  Our technical coordination process depends on systems support so changes there have been delayed.  The amendment to the terminal registration requirement for new indoor, low power licensees, and our new user-led coordination process are in place.

We are finalising our plans and will provide more details on the implementation and timing of impacted policy decisions on a dedicated webpage. A further bulletin will be sent once our updated plans and dedicated webpage are finalised.

Our existing products and licensing activities continue as usual (including the current Shared Access and Amateur Radio products) and have not been impacted.

LPE 3 will bring substantial improvements to our licensing processes. We appreciate your patience as our work on it continues.

For further information please contact spectrum.licensing@ofcom.org.uk.  

On 11 December 2023 we published our statement (PDF, 1.3 MB) setting out our decision to update the amateur radio licensing framework to ensure the policies and licences meet the needs of today and tomorrow’s radio amateurs, while streamlining the licensing process.

Alongside the statement we published our General Notice of proposal to vary amateur radio licences (PDF, 623.0 KB), giving notice of our proposal to vary all amateur radio licences, in accordance with paragraphs 6 and 7 of Schedule 1 of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006 and the terms and conditions of the licence.

Today we have published our General Notice of decision to vary amateur radio licences (PDF, 599.5 KB). This General Notice explains the reasons for our decisions and confirms that, with some amendments in light of stakeholder responses to the consultation, we will vary all amateur radio licences to implement our plans to update the amateur radio licence framework.

All amateur radio licences are effectively varied as of today’s date and any use of amateur radio equipment must be in accordance with the new terms and conditions for the class of amateur licence held. We will shortly commence contacting licensees to provide them with their new licence documents.

Alongside our General Notice of decision we have also published an updated version of the Amateur Radio Licence Document, an updated version of the Amateur Radio Wireless Telegraphy Licence Conditions Booklet, an updated version of the Notice of Coordination and an updated version of the amateur radio guidance document.