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.