Statement: Decision to make the Wireless Telegraphy (Mobile Repeater) (Exemption) Regulations 2022

This statement confirms that, following consultation on our proposal to make regulations, we have decided to proceed with extending the range of licence exempt static indoor mobile phone repeaters that can be self-installed by making new regulations, the Wireless Telegraphy (Mobile Repeater) (Exemption) Regulations 2022 (the “Regulations”).

These revoke and replace the licence exemption regulations for mobile phone repeaters made by Ofcom in 2018.  We have decided to proceed with making the Regulations following consideration of the four responses to our consultation. Taking account of those responses, and in order to provide greater clarity in some places, we have made some minor amendments to the Regulations on which we consulted. The Regulations were made on 26 May 2022 and will come into force on 16 June 2022.

The Regulations do the following:

• Extend the licence exemption criteria to cover devices that operate on the frequencies of more than one mobile operator. In particular, they allow for the use of ‘provider-specific’ and ‘multi-operator’ repeaters, provided that they meet certain technical requirements; and
• Permit the licence-exempt use of static indoor mobile repeater devices which amplify signals other than those carried on 2G, 3G and 4G networks (including, for example, 5G signals).

By making the Regulations, Ofcom hopes to support the provision of a wider choice of repeater devices to help consumers address their indoor coverage problems.

The overview section in this document is a simplified high-level summary only. The decisions we have taken and our reasoning are set out in the full document.