Wireless Telegraphy (Exemption) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2026

Status:

This is the original version (as it was originally made). This item of legislation is currently only available in its original format.

Statutory Instruments

2026 No. 396

Electronic Communications

The Wireless Telegraphy (Exemption) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2026

Made

8th April 2026

Coming into force

29th April 2026

The Office of Communications (“ OFCOM ”), in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 8(3) and 122(7) of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006 (“ the Act ”)(1), make the following Regulations.

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

Citation and commencement

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Wireless Telegraphy (Exemption) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2026 and shall come into force on 29th April 2026.

Amendment of the Wireless Telegraphy (Exemption) Regulations 2021

1. —(1) The Wireless Telegraphy (Exemption) Regulations 2021(2) are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 2 (Interpretation), at the appropriate place insert—

“ autonomous maritime radio device” means a mobile wireless telegraphy station or wireless telegraphy apparatus which transmits independently of any wireless telegraphy ship station or coast station, (and is not used for the purpose of safety of navigation of the vessel) that is—

(a) operating within the UK territorial sea; or

(b) where not operating within the UK territorial sea, released from—

(i) within the United Kingdom or UK territorial sea; or

(ii) a ship that is registered in the United Kingdom;

“ ETSI EN 302 502 ” means the harmonised standard published by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) entitled 5.8 GHz fixed broadband data transmitting systems (ETSI EN 302 502 V2.1.1 (6th March 2017));

“ indoors ” means inside premises which—

(a) have a ceiling or a roof; and

(b) except for any doors, windows or passageways, are wholly enclosed ”.

(3) In regulation 4 (Short range devices) for “IR 2030 – UK Interface Requirements 2030 Licence Exempt Short Range Devices”, published by OFCOM in March 2023, is exempt” substitute “IR 2030 – UK Interface Requirement 2030, Licence Exempt Short Range Devices (SRDs)”, published by OFCOM in April 2026, is exempt”.

(4) In regulation 6 (High density fixed satellite service systems) for “IR 2066 – UK Interface Requirement 2066, High Density Fixed Satellite Service Systems (HDFSS)”, published by OFCOM in March 2023, is exempt” substitute “IR 2066 – UK Interface Requirement 2066, High Density Fixed Satellite Service Systems (HDFSS)”, published by OFCOM in April 2026, is exempt”.

(5) After regulation 10 (Safety related intelligent transport systems) insert—

Autonomous maritime radio devices

1. The establishment, installation and use of an autonomous maritime radio device on the frequency 160.9 MHz is exempt from the provisions of section 8(1) of the Act, if—

(a) it complies with the interface requirements which form part of the publication “IR 2113—UK Interface Requirement 2113, Autonomous Maritime Radio Devices (AMRD) operating in the frequency band 156-162.05 MHz”, published by OFCOM in April 2026;

(b) it does not cause or contribute to undue interference to any wireless telegraphy; and

(c) it operates at a height no higher than one metre above sea level.

Coastal station radio training school

1. The establishment, installation and use of a wireless telegraphy station or wireless telegraphy apparatus is exempt from the provisions of section 8(1) of the Act, if—

(a) it complies with the interface requirements which form part of the publication “IR 2114 — UK Interface Requirement 2114 Coastal Station Radio (Training School)”, published by OFCOM in April 2026;

(b) it is used indoors;

(c) it does not cause or contribute to undue interference to any wireless telegraphy; and

(d) it is used for the purposes of training individuals to use maritime radio.

Fixed wireless access

1. The establishment, installation and use of a wireless telegraphy station or wireless telegraphy apparatus within the frequency band 5725 MHz to 5850 MHz is exempt from the provisions of section 8(1) of the Act, if—

(a) it complies with the interface requirements which form part of the publication “IR 2007 – UK Interface Requirement 2007 Fixed Broadband Services operating in the 5725 – 5850 MHz band”, published by OFCOM in April 2026;

(b) it does not cause or contribute to undue interference to any wireless telegraphy; and

(c) techniques to access spectrum and mitigate interference described in ETSI EN 302 502 (at paragraph 4.2.4 for Transmit Power Control and paragraph 4.2.6 for Dynamic Frequency Selection) are used, or other techniques that provide at least equivalent performance to the techniques described in ETSI EN 302 502 are used. ”.

David Willis

Group Director, Spectrum Group

For and on behalf of the Office of Communications

8th April 2026

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Wireless Telegraphy (Exemption) Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/493) (“ the 2021 Regulations ”) (which exempt the establishment, installation and use of wireless telegraphy stations or apparatus which comply with certain terms, provisions and limitations, from the requirement to be licensed under section 8(1) of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006 (c. 36)).

Regulation 2(2) adds new definitions to the interpretation section in the 2021 Regulations.

Regulations 2(3) and 2(4) amend the 2021 Regulations to change the publication date and name of certain technical interface requirement documents published by OFCOM which related to short range devices and to high density fixed satellite service systems.

Regulation 2(5) introduces three new regulations. The new regulations relate to autonomous maritime radio devices (using the frequency 160.9 MHz), coastal station radio training school radio equipment (used indoors) and certain fixed wireless access radio equipment (within the 5725 MHz to 5850 MHz frequency band).

The autonomous maritime radio devices referred to in these Regulations are known as Group B autonomous maritime radio devices in Recommendation ITU-R M.2135-1 published by the International Telecommunication Union in February 2023 which is available at www.itu.int.

The harmonised standard published by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) which is referenced is available at https://www.etsi.org/.

The interface requirement documents are published by OFCOM and are available from OFCOM’s website at https://www.ofcom.org.uk/home or from the OFCOM library at Riverside House, 2a Southwark Bridge Road, London SE1 9HA.

A full regulatory impact assessment of the effect of these Regulations is available to the public from OFCOM’s website at https://www.ofcom.org.uk/home or from the OFCOM library at Riverside House, 2a Southwark Bridge Road, London SE1 9HA. Copies of the assessment have also been placed in the libraries of both Houses of Parliament.

(1) 2006 c. 36. Section 8(3) 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); to the Bailiwick of Jersey by article 2 of the Wireless Telegraphy (Jersey) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/3324); and to the Isle of Man by article 2 of the Wireless Telegraphy (Isle of Man) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/278).

(2) S.I. 2021/493 as amended by S.I. 2021/948 and S.I. 2023/243.

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