Ofcom has made the Wireless Telegraphy (Exemption) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2026, updating the 2021 Exemption Regulations. The instrument was made on 8 April 2026 and comes into force on 29 April 2026. It creates three new licence exemptions and refreshes several UK Interface Requirement references.
Licence‑exempt status means no individual licence is required under section 8(1) of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006 when equipment complies with Ofcom’s technical interface requirements and does not cause undue interference. Operators remain responsible for conformity, record‑keeping and prompt mitigation if interference arises.
The Regulations add a definition of an autonomous maritime radio device. It is equipment that transmits independently of a ship or coast station, is not used for the safety of navigation, and either operates within UK territorial seas or, if used beyond them, was released from the UK or its territorial seas, or from a UK‑registered vessel. The update also defines “indoors” for regulatory purposes and cites ETSI EN 302 502 as the relevant harmonised standard for certain fixed broadband systems.
Regulation 11 introduces a licence exemption for autonomous maritime radio devices operating on 160.9 MHz. Use is conditional on compliance with IR 2113 (April 2026), operation at a height no greater than one metre above sea level, and the general obligation not to cause or contribute to undue interference. The Explanatory Note identifies these as Group B devices in ITU‑R M.2135‑1.
Regulation 12 creates a licence exemption for coastal station radio equipment used by maritime radio training schools, provided it is used indoors for the sole purpose of training. Equipment must meet IR 2114 (April 2026) and remain subject to the non‑interference requirement. “Indoors” is defined as inside premises with a ceiling or roof and otherwise wholly enclosed, apart from doors, windows or passageways.
Regulation 13 permits licence‑exempt fixed broadband services in the 5.8 GHz band from 5725 MHz to 5850 MHz where equipment conforms to IR 2007 (April 2026). Systems must implement spectrum access and interference‑mitigation techniques including Transmit Power Control and Dynamic Frequency Selection as set out in ETSI EN 302 502, or equivalent techniques delivering at least the same performance, and must not cause undue interference.
For wireless internet service providers and fixed wireless installers, the 5.8 GHz measure codifies a licence‑exempt path for point‑to‑point and point‑to‑multipoint links, subject to the IR 2007 parameters. Network teams should confirm firmware support for ETSI‑specified DFS and TPC, review channel plans against incumbent use, and document conformity within procurement and installation workflows ahead of 29 April.
Maritime training organisations gain a clear, licence‑exempt route to run classroom and simulator exercises using coastal station equipment, provided activity is indoors and limited to training. Centres should inventory sets against IR 2114, check that premises and equipment settings minimise emissions beyond the building, and brief instructors on interference duties.
Operators deploying autonomous maritime radio devices can proceed without individual licences at 160.9 MHz within tight conditions. Compliance checks should confirm that devices are not used for navigational safety functions, that release points meet the UK/UK‑registered vessel criteria when operating beyond territorial waters, and that antenna placement remains at or below one metre above sea level throughout use.
The instrument also updates the citations for short‑range devices and high‑density fixed satellite service systems to the April 2026 editions of IR 2030 and IR 2066 respectively. Manufacturers, importers and users relying on these licence exemptions should reference the updated documents for conformity assessments from commencement.
The Regulations are signed for Ofcom by David Willis, Group Director, Spectrum Group. With commencement on Wednesday 29 April 2026, affected stakeholders-WISPs, maritime training schools and AMRD users-have a short implementation window to confirm equipment settings, technical documentation and operational procedures against the new interface requirements.