Two Way Radio Licensing Information
Why your Two-Way Business Radios Needs a licence to Operate?
Private Business Radios operate on either VHF or, UHF radio frequencies that is issued and co-ordinated by Ofcom. In order to transmit on these frequencies, you are required to have a licence issued by Ofcom. There are benefits of a licenced frequency such as:
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Increased Range due to increased power on equipment
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Less interference from other users
These frequencies are allocated to businesses only, on an individual basis. Once your licence has been obtained, can program your newly issued frequencies into your radios, there is no limit to how many radios you have on each frequency now days.
You do not need a licence for PMR446 Short Range Radios.
Low power two-way radios operate on 8 UHF frequencies that have been issued for general on-site by the Ofcom. These frequencies have been allocated to a European service called PMR446 and there isn't a restriction on where you use the radios and they are programmed into the radios at time of manufacture. These license free radios can use 1/10th of the power of licensed radios giving extremely limited range. Childrens toys even use these frequencies and due to there only being 8 channels for the whole of the UK they are very traffic heavy making the chance of interference highly possible.
How to apply for a Radio Licence
Radio Relay can carry out licencing formalities on behalf of its customers, except for paying the fees; you will need to send this direct to Ofcom.
Two-Way Radio Licence Types & Fees
Simple UK Light
This licence authorises the use of hand-portable or mobile radio equipment anywhere within the UK. Base station use is not permitted. Licensees have access to fifteen frequencies spread across four Business Radio frequency bands and must self-coordinate with other Simple UK Light licensees. The licence fee is £75 for five years.
Simple Site Light
This licence authorises the use of a radio system operating a base station and mobile stations within a small area (typically 1 kilometre or less). Frequencies available under this licence class are typically used for radio paging systems. Licensees have access to a range of frequencies and must self-coordinate with other Simple Site Light licensees. The licence fee is £75 for five years.
Suppliers Light
This licence is a specialist licence for Radio Suppliers and permits them to:
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Service and repair business radio and marine equipment
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Hire out business radio (including trunked business radio) and/or radio paging equipment to customers for up to one year
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Allocate business radio (including trunked business radio) equipment to customers awaiting Business Radio licences, for up to three months (known as ‘parking’)
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Demonstrate business radio (including trunked business radio) equipment to customers for up to 8 days.
Licensees have access to a wide range of frequencies and must share and self-coordinate with other Suppliers Light licensees. The licence fee is £75 for five years.
Technically Assigned
This licence is a flexible licence that authorises the use of a wide variety of business radio equipment. Licensees can choose from a wide range of frequencies across all Business Radio bands and a wide range of coverage areas, from very small (e.g. in-building coverage) to very large (e.g. a county).
Licence fees are calculated on the basis of several factors including the size of the coverage area and the popularity of the frequency band and typically range from £75 to £1480 for a single channel assignment.
Area Defined
Area Defined licences give customers exclusive use of a frequency across either a 50km2 grid square, a country, or the whole of the UK. Licence fees are calculated using a combination of frequency width, frequency range and region covered.
As an example, a duplex 12.5kHz frequency between 450 and 470MHz to be used across the UK would cost £9,900. A duplex 12.5kHz frequency between 68 and 80MHz to be used across the UK would cost £3,300.
Availability of UK wide channels is extremely limited above 165MHz, so if wish to purchase an Area Defined licence you should check spectrum availability with us first.
