The Wireless Telegraphy (Spectrum Trading and Register) (Amendment) Regulations 2025
Source: legislation.gov.uk (2025-07-02)

These Regulations amend the Wireless Telegraphy (Spectrum Trading) Regulations 2012 (S.I. 2012/2187, as amended by S.I. 2015/1338 and S.I. 2019/950) (“Spectrum Trading Regulations”) and the Wireless Telegraphy (Register) Regulations 2012 (S.I. 2012/2186, as amended by S.I. 2013/640, S.I. 2015/1400, S.I. 2018/90 and S.I. 2019/952) (“Register Regulations”).

Statutory Instruments

2025 No. 571

Electronic Communications

The Wireless Telegraphy (Spectrum Trading and Register) (Amendment) Regulations 2025

Made

12th May 2025

Coming into force

2nd June 2025

The Office of Communications (“OFCOM”) makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 30(1) and (3), section 31(1) and section 122(7) of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006(1 (\"#f00001\"))(2 (\"#f00002\")) (the “Act”).

Before making these Regulations, OFCOM has given notice of its proposal to do so in accordance with section 122(4) of the Act, published notice of its proposal in accordance with section 122(4)(b) of the Act, and has considered the representations made to it before the time specified in the notice in accordance with section 122(4)(c) of the Act.

Citation and commencement

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Wireless Telegraphy (Spectrum Trading and Register) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 and come into force on 2nd June 2025.

(2) These Regulations shall not extend to the Channel Islands or Isle of Man.

Amendment of the Wireless Telegraphy (Spectrum Trading) Regulations 2012

2.—(1) The Wireless Telegraphy (Spectrum Trading) Regulations 2012(3 (\"#f00003\")) are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 4 (transfer of all the rights and obligations arising by virtue of a wireless telegraphy licence), paragraph 3, for “Colum 1 of each of Parts 3 to 21” substitute “Column 1 of each of Parts 3 to 22”.

(3) Schedule 2 (licence classes and frequency bands) is amended in accordance with paragraphs (4) (\"#regulation-2-4\") and (5) (\"#regulation-2-5\").

(4) In Part 10, in column 2—

(a)for “7425-7900 MHz” substitute “7425-8400 MHz”; and

(b)omit “64-66 GHz”.

(5) After Part 21, insert—

PART 22

Shared Access (Low Power)

Shared Access (Medium Power)

1781.7-1785 MHz

1876.8-1880 MHz

2320-2340 MHz

2390-2400 MHz

3.8-4.2 GHz

24.45-27.5 GHz

40.5-43.5 GHz

Amendment of the Wireless Telegraphy (Register) Regulations 2012

3.—(1) The Wireless Telegraphy (Register) Regulations 2012(4 (\"#f00004\")) are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 4 (relevant information), in paragraph (1)(a), for “14” substitute “15”.

(3) In Schedule 2 (classes and frequency bands)—

(a)in Part 1, in Column 2, omit “64-66 GHz”;

(b)in Part 3, in Column 2, for “7425-7900 MHz” substitute “7425-8400 MHz”; and

(c)after Part 14, insert—

PART 15

Shared Access (Low Power)

Shared Access (Medium Power)

1781.7-1785 MHz

1876.8-1880 MHz

2320-2340 MHz

2390-2400 MHz

3.8-4.2 GHz

24.45-27.5 GHz

40.5-43.5 GHz

David Willis

Group Director, Spectrum Group

For and on behalf of the Office of Communication

12th May 2025

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Wireless Telegraphy (Spectrum Trading) Regulations 2012 (S.I. 2012/2187 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2012/2187\"), as amended by S.I. 2015/1338 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2015/1338\") and S.I. 2019/950 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2019/950\")) (“Spectrum Trading Regulations”) and the Wireless Telegraphy (Register) Regulations 2012 (S.I. 2012/2186 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2012/2186\"), as amended by S.I. 2013/640 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2013/640\"), S.I. 2015/1400 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2015/1400\"), S.I. 2018/90 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2018/90\") and S.I. 2019/952 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2019/952\")) (“Register Regulations”).

Specifically, regulation 2 amends the Spectrum Trading Regulations so as to authorise the transfer of all rights and obligations relating to a range of additional Shared Access licences, including those in the 2.3 GHz, 26 GHz, and 40 GHz frequency bands, and Point-to-Point Fixed Links licences in the 7900-8400 MHz frequency band. Regulation 3 also amends the Registration Regulations to enable Ofcom to provide relevant information about those licences in its Wireless Telegraphy Register.

These Regulations also remove Self Contained Links in the 64-66 GHz band from both the Spectrum Trading Regulations and the Register Regulations. The rights and obligations relating to this particular licence class can therefore no longer be transferred by licensees.

A full regulatory impact assessment of the effect of these Regulations is available on OFCOM’s website at www.ofcom.org.uk (\"http://www.ofcom.org.uk\"). Hard copies of this assessment can be obtained free of charge by writing to OFCOM at Riverside House, 2a Southwark Bridge Road, London, SE1 9HA (tel. xx-xxxx-xxxx). Copies of this assessment have also been placed in the library of both Houses of Parliament.

(1)

2006 c.36 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2006/36\").

(2)

Section 30(1) and (3), section 31(1) and section 122(7) were extended to the Bailiwick of Guernsey by article 2 of the Wireless Telegraphy (Guernsey) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/3325 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2006/3325\")). Section 31(1) and section 122(7) were extended to the Bailiwick of Jersey by article 2 of the Wireless Telegraphy (Jersey) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/3324 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2006/3324\")); and to the Isle of Man by article 2 of the Wireless Telegraphy (Isle of Man) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/278 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2007/278\")).

(3)

S.I. 2012/2187 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2012/2187\"), as amended by S.I. 2015/1338 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2015/1338\") and S.I. 2019/950 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2019/950\").

(4)

S.I. 2012/2186 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2012/2186\"), as amended by S.I. 2013/640 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2013/640\"), S.I. 2015/1400 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2015/1400\"), S.I. 2018/90 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2018/90\") and S.I. 2019/952 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2019/952\").