Ofcom released a consultation document on the 17th of January 2025, outlining possible changes to exempt the use of some equipment whose use currently requires an Ofcom licence – potentially removing the need for a licence, or revisions to the existing terms.
Much of this doesn’t affect us directly as radio amateurs, but of course does affect the spectrum that we all use, so may be worth a review. That said, there is one section in this document specifically relating to UK amateur radio
What areas are being covered?
The document is a lengthy one, but covers the following categories:
- Mobile communications onboard aircraft and vessels
- Short-range devices (such as remote controls, car fobs, etc)
- Radio, TV and film equipment, such as wireless mics and in-ear monitoring
- RFID – Inductive Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID)
- Active medical implants
- Wideband data transmission systems (WBDTS) in data networks
- Assistive Listening Device, for example, induction loop systems for the hearing impaired
- Transport and Traffic Telematics (TTT) devices
- Ultra-wideband (UWB) for location tracing, traffic management, vehicle application, etc
- Autonomous maritime radio devices (AMRDs)
- Coastal Station Radio (Training School)
- Testing and Development under suppressed radiation conditions
- Amateur Radio (Full) (Temporary Reciprocal)
Amateur Radio Temporary Reciprocal?
Ofcom is considering extending the existing licence exemption for overseas radio amateurs to include those on short visits from foreign countries.
Of course, this is already possible with certain countries under the CEPT T/R-61 agreement, but the proposal would allow visitors from the following countries to be allowed to operate on short-term visits (less than 3 months), provided that they hold the equivalent of a UK Full licence:
Bermuda, Botswana, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Gibraltar, India, Kenya, Malaysia, Namibia, Papua New Guinea, Qatar, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Trinidad & Tobago, Vanuatu and Zimbabwe.
More info and taking part
You can download the 60-page consultation document, and submit a response, from the following page:
Ofcom Consultation: Updating WT Licence Exemptions
Your thoughts?
Add a comment below…
CEPT T/R 61-01 permits visiting CEPT licence holders to use their radios during short visits. The CEPT licence is only issued to amateurs who hold a suitable licence from their own nation, such as the UK Full licence.
A visitor from a non-CEPT nation which has reciprocal licence arrangements may have a licence in a lesser class. As I read the OFCOM proposal, they would be permitted to use their callsign (with appropriate prefix) and with privileges equivalent to a CEPT licence.
This privilege escalation seems unwise?
That is a correct interpretation, whether Ofcom mean to say that is another matter.
UK established an amateur radio reciprocal bilateral agreement with the countries mentioned in the 1980’s/90’s. The treaties comprise nothing more than a series of notes sent from a UK civil servant to an equivalent in the other countries.
For the most part the notes are vague, they do not mention classes of licence, hence these treaties cover all classes of licence. The notable exception is Thailand, the Bilateral Arrangement restricted it to Thai Intermediate class holders only. Thailand has three licence classes: Basic (Foundation), Intermediate (equivalent to UK Intermediate) and Advanced (equivalent to UK Full). Ofcom’s current wording will exclude Thai Advanced licence holders.
Ofcom wish to reduce their workload, they do not want to have to process requests for licences from visitors from those countries, hence the licence exempt proposal.
Replies to the consulation must be submitted by 28 March.
The existing UK Amateur Radio Reciprocal Bilateral agreements are available at https://treaties.fcdo.gov.uk/responsive/app/consolidatedSearch/#search/v=list,c=1,q=qs%3D%5Bamateur%20radio%5D%2CqueryType%3D%5B64%5D,sm=s,l=library2_lib
I think it would be far better if UK copied Australia’s admirable approach of unilaterally welcoming radio amateur from many countries around the world to operate in the country irrespective of their licence class. The operating priviledges e.g. power level, do of course reflect licence class
Australia welcomes UK Foundation and Intermediate holders despite the UK’s Ofcom refusal to do the same for Australia’s Foundation and Standard (equiv UK Intermediate) class licences. There is no need to apply for anything you can just operate for 365 days as soon as you land.
Details of Australia’s 365-day licence-exempt operation for visitors are at
https://www.acma.gov.au/overseas-amateurs-visiting-australia