PMSE fees

Spectrum Radio equipment Licence information

Published: 10 February 2015

Last updated: 16 March 2023

There are two methods for paying for frequencies:

Standard payment - by credit/debit card, cheque, cash or bank transfer
Carnet - Our pre-payment scheme, which offers a discount for high-volume users

and two charging structures, dependent on type of use:

48hr - For temporary assignments or long-term outdoor, high power assignments
Fixed site - For long-term, indoor, low power assignments

There are only two exceptions to this:

UK Wireless Microphone Licences - UK-wide, yearly or two-yearly
Sound Links (studio to transmitter) - 30-day RSL licences available

Please note: We must receive payment before we can assign any frequencies.

There is a minimum fee of £28.00 for all jobs completed in-house. This does not apply for online bookings, so please check whether it is possible to book online before sending your application.

A £55.00 premium fee is added to all bookings completed by our out-of-hours planner (After 17:00 and at weekends)

Applications that do not have sufficient details for us to complete the work may be delayed.

Refunds

Our refund policy is outlined in the Licensing Policy Manual.

Refunds are only applicable when an applicant has paid for a service, but we are unable to provide that service due to lack of available spectrum. The only other instance where a refund is permitted is when we have made an administrative mistake (such as overcharging).

A UHF shared licence can be purchased for a one or two year period.

A VHF shared licence is only available for one year at a time.

Licence	Online Fee	Office Fee
UHF 1 Year	£75	£85
UHF 2 Year	£135	£155
VHF 1 Year	£75	£85

Low Power Use	Typical Bandwidth	Typical 48hr Charge
Wireless mic 470 - 1154 MHz (10mW)	200kHz	£8.50
2 - 5 GHz analogue (100mW EXT, 1W INT)	20 MHz	£51
Multi-mic use within single TV Channel (470 - 790 MHz)	200 kHz per mic	£51
Multi-mic use within single 960 Channel (961 – 1154 MHz)	200 kHz per mic	£25.50

Fee = fee per bandwidth unit x no. of bandwidth units required x no. of 48hr periods. A carnet token covers the cost of a bandwidth unit for 48hrs

Frequency Range	Bandwidth Unit	48hr Charge/ Bandwidth Unit	Typical Bandwidth	Typical 48hr Charge

26 - 65 MHz	12.5kHz	£2.75	12.5kHz	£2.75
65 - 470 MHz	12.5kHz	£8.50	12.5 kHz	£8.50
470 - 1000 MHz	12.5kHz	£2.75	200 kHz	£44
1 - 2 GHz	0.5 MHz	£17	0.5 MHz	£17
2 - 5 GHz (on-line only)	10 MHz	£12 per 12hrs	N/A	N/A
2 - 5 GHz	5 MHz	£28	10 MHz**	£56
5 - 8 GHz	5 MHz	£17	20 MHz	£68
8 - 20 GHz	5 MHz	£8.50	20 MHz	£34

Fixed site fees apply for long-term use at indoor locations.

For short term use the 48-hr tariff will apply.

Where fixed site conditions are met for temporary assignments, the cheaper of the fees will be charged.

Use Type	Frequency Range	Typical Bandwidth	Typical Power	Annual Rate

Talkback	450 - 470 MHz	12.5kHz	1W	£28
Talkback	470 - 1000 MHz	12.5kHz	100mW	£28*
Talkback	470 - 1000 MHz	200kHz	100mW	£28*

Wireless Mic	470 - 1154 MHz	200kHz	10mW	£28*

	Special Cases
*Talkback /Wireless Mic	Multi use within single TV Channel (470 – 790 MHz)			£168
Wireless Mic	Multi use within single 960 Channel (961 – 1154 MHz)			£84

Carnets are a means of paying in advance for your frequency assignments.

When using a carnet, you must still apply for each assignment, just as for pay-as-you-go assignments, but you do not need to arrange payment each time.

One carnet token covers the use of one frequency assignment for 48 hours.

You can only use a carnet token for a single assignment.

Choice of frequencies

A carnet does not specify a particular frequency, but a whole frequency band: For example, a carnet token in the 2GHz to 3.5GHz band can be used to pay for an assignment of any 2GHz or 3.5GHz frequency.

It does not guarantee access to any particular frequency. Assignments are made on a first-come, first-served basis to all customers.

If you require more frequencies than you have carnet tokens, extra frequencies can be paid for as needed; by credit card, for example. Remember, there is a minimum charge for pay-as-you-go assignments. Alternatively, another carnet can be purchased.

Cancellations

If you cancel an assignment made with a carnet token, the token is not 'refunded'.

Duration

A Carnet lasts until all carnet tokens have been used, and you may carry your remaining carnet tokens onto a new annual licence.

Fee

The cost of a carnet depends on the frequency band. A 60-token carnet gives a 7.5% saving on the usual 48-hr fee, and a 480-token carnet gives a 25% saving on the usual 48-hr fee.

Each carnet token represents one standard bandwidth unit, so certain requirements will use more than one carnet per assignment. e.g. a typical analogue 2.5 GHz video link has a bandwidth of 20 MHz, so uses 4 x 5MHz tokens. Each token pays for an assignment for up to 48 hrs (except on-line 2GHz).

You can now buy and view remaining carnets online; please register or login.

Carnet fees

Frequency Range	Typical Use	Bandwidth Unit	60 Tokens/ Bandwidth Unit	480 Tokens/ Bandwidth Unit	Typical Bandwidth	Token Category

26 - 65 MHz	Talkback	12.5kHz	£153	£990	12.5kHz	11W
65 - 470 MHz	Talkback	12.5kHz	£472	£3060	12.5 kHz	12W
470 - 1000 MHz	1W links/High Power Mics	12.5kHz	£153	£990	200 kHz	13W
1 - 2 GHz	Video links/wireless cameras	0.5 MHz	£944	£6120	0.5 MHz	14W
2 - 5 GHz	Video links/wireless cameras (processed in-house)	5 MHz	£1554	£10080	10 MHz	15W
2 GHz digital link on-line booking 12hr	Wireless cameras (booked online)	10 MHz	£666	£4320	10 MHz	85W
5 - 8 GHz	Video links/wireless cameras	5 MHz	£944	£6120	20 MHz	16W
8 - 20 GHz	Video links/wireless cameras	5 MHz	£472	£3060	20 MHz	17W

Low Power
Wireless mic (10mW)	Mics and IEMS		£472	£3060	200kHz	20W