Ofcom extends licence exemptions

New spectrum licence exemptions will be enabled and extended in the UK.

This means that more airwaves are being made available for industry to use without needing a licence.

It follows new Ofcom regulations relating to the 57–71 GHz spectrum band coming into force.

Following a review of fixed wireless services, published in July, Ofcom published draft regulations to extend and enable new licence exemption conditions for the 57–71 GHz band.

After consultation, Ofcom has confirmed these changes will go ahead. This means a continuous block of 14 GHz of spectrum will be available on a licence-exempt basis. This could be used for very high capacity services including 5G — the next generation of mobile. It could also open up opportunities for new services in other sectors.

The Wireless Telegraphy (Exemption and Amendment) (Amendment) (No.2) Regulations necessary to bring in these changes have now been made and will come into effect on 27 November 2018.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Leigh Prather

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