PMSE fees

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.

LicenceOnline FeeOffice Fee
UHF 1 Year£75£85
UHF 2 Year£135£155
VHF 1 Year£75£85
Low Power UseTypical BandwidthTypical 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 RangeBandwidth Unit48hr Charge/ Bandwidth UnitTypical BandwidthTypical 48hr Charge
     
26 - 65 MHz12.5kHz£2.7512.5kHz£2.75
65 - 470 MHz12.5kHz£8.5012.5 kHz£8.50
470 - 1000 MHz12.5kHz£2.75200 kHz£44
1 - 2 GHz0.5 MHz£170.5 MHz£17
2 - 5 GHz (on-line only)10 MHz£12 per 12hrsN/AN/A
2 - 5 GHz5 MHz£2810 MHz**£56
5 - 8 GHz5 MHz£1720 MHz£68
8 - 20 GHz5 MHz£8.5020 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 TypeFrequency RangeTypical BandwidthTypical PowerAnnual Rate
     
Talkback450 - 470 MHz12.5kHz1W£28
Talkback470 - 1000 MHz12.5kHz100mW£28*
Talkback470 - 1000 MHz200kHz100mW£28*
     
Wireless Mic470 - 1154 MHz200kHz10mW£28*
     
Special Cases
*Talkback /Wireless MicMulti use within single TV Channel (470 – 790 MHz)  £168
Wireless MicMulti 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 RangeTypical
Use
Bandwidth Unit60 Tokens/ Bandwidth Unit480 Tokens/ Bandwidth UnitTypical BandwidthToken
Category
       
26 - 65 MHzTalkback12.5kHz£153£99012.5kHz11W
65 - 470 MHzTalkback12.5kHz£472£306012.5 kHz12W
470 - 1000 MHz1W links/High Power Mics12.5kHz£153£990200 kHz13W
1 - 2 GHz Video links/wireless cameras0.5 MHz£944£61200.5 MHz14W
2 - 5 GHzVideo links/wireless cameras
(processed in-house)
5 MHz£1554£1008010 MHz15W
2 GHz digital link on-line booking 12hr Wireless cameras
(booked online)
10 MHz£666£432010 MHz85W
5 - 8 GHzVideo links/wireless cameras5 MHz£944£612020 MHz16W
8 - 20 GHzVideo links/wireless cameras5 MHz£472£306020 MHz17W
       
Low Power      
Wireless mic (10mW)Mics and IEMS £472£3060200kHz20W

We understand our fees can sometimes be difficult to understand so our calculators are designed to do all of the hard work for you.

Simply choose the equipment type from the list below and select your requirements from the options available.

Audio Distribution Fee Calculator

Audio Links Fee Calculator

Camera Control Fee Calculator

Wireless Mics and Monitors Fee Calculator

Talkback Fee Calculator

Video Link Fee Calculator

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