The Wireless Telegraphy (Licence Charges for the 900 MHz Frequency Band and the 1800 MHz Frequency Band) Regulations 2025

Made: 13th August 2025

Coming into force: 30th September 2025

Before making these Regulations, OFCOM gave 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 the representations made to them before the time specified in the notice in accordance with section 122(4)(c) of the Act.

PART 1 — Introduction

Citation, commencement, and extent

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• (1) These Regulations may be cited as the Wireless Telegraphy (Licence Charges for the 900 MHz Frequency Band and the 1800 MHz Frequency Band) Regulations 2025.

• (2) These Regulations come into force on 30th September 2025.

• (3) These Regulations do not extend to the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.

Interpretation

2

In these Regulations—

• “licence” means a wireless telegraphy licence of the Public Wireless Networks licence class;

• “licensee” means— where one person is the holder of a relevant licence, that person, or where two or more persons hold a relevant licence concurrently, those persons;

• “MHz” means megahertz;

• “relevant licence” means a licence authorising use of national channels within— the 900 MHz frequency band; the 1800 MHz frequency band;

• “900 MHz frequency band” means the frequencies from 880.1 to 914.9 MHz and 925.1 to 959.9 MHz;

• “1800 MHz frequency band” means the frequencies from 1710.1 to 1781.7 MHz and 1805.1 to 1876.7 MHz.

PART 2 — Ongoing licence charges

Licence charges payable for the 900 MHz frequency band

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• (1) On 31st October 2025, and on each anniversary of that date, the holder of a licence authorising the use of the frequencies in the 900 MHz frequency band shall pay to OFCOM the total sum specified in paragraph (2).

• (2) The total sum to be paid in accordance with paragraph (1) shall be determined having regard to the following formula—

$$S=£1,032×N×CPIt÷CPI0$ Where— “S” means the total sum; “N” means the total number of kilohertz within the 900 MHz frequency band (the use of which is authorised, under a licence, across the United Kingdom); “CPI” means the number given in respect of that month in the monthly all items consumer prices index published by the Office of National Statistics; “CPIt” means the most recent CPI value that was available on 30th September prior to the month in which charges are due; “CPI₀” means the CPI value for September 2024.$

• (3) If the total sum calculated in accordance with paragraph (2) is a fraction of a whole number, it shall be rounded down to the nearest whole number.

Licence charges payable for the 1800 MHz frequency band

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• (1) On 31st October 2025, and on each anniversary of that date, the holder of a licence authorising the use of frequencies in the 1800 MHz frequency band shall pay to OFCOM the total sum specified in paragraph (2).

• (2) The total sum to be paid in accordance with paragraph (1) shall be determined having regard to the following formula—

$$S=£760×N×CPIt÷CPI0$ Where— “S” means the total sum; “N” means the total number of kilohertz within the 1800 MHz frequency band (the use of which is authorised, under a licence, across the United Kingdom); “CPI” means the number given in respect of that month in the monthly all items consumer prices index published by the Office of National Statistics; “CPIt” means the most recent CPI value that was available on 30th September prior to the month in which charges are due; “CPI₀” means the CPI value for September 2024.$

• (3) If the total sum calculated in accordance with paragraph (2) is a fraction of a whole number it shall be rounded down to the nearest whole number.

Payments by instalments

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• (1) This regulation applies in respect of a licence where OFCOM receive notice from that licensee of their intention to make payment in twelve monthly instalments of the total sum prescribed by regulation 3 or 4 (as the case may be).

• (2) Where this regulation applies in respect of a licensee, the licensee—

• (a) shall not be required to make payment of the total sum prescribed by regulation 3 or 4 at the prescribed time other than in accordance with this paragraph; and instead

• (b) shall make payment of the sum in twelve instalments with the first instalment to be paid to OFCOM on the same day as the total sum was due to be paid and each subsequent instalment to be paid on the same day in each of the following eleven months, or in a month in which there is no such day, the last day of the month.

• (3) The first eleven instalments will equate to one-twelfth of the total sum prescribed in regulation 3 or 4 rounded down to the nearest pound, with the twelfth instalment being the remainder of the total sum prescribed.

• (4) Where at any time the licensee fails to make payment in accordance with paragraph (2)(b), all of the outstanding instalment payments, if any, including any payments that the licensee has failed to make, shall become immediately due for payment.

PART 3

Supplementary

Revocation and transitional provision

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• (1) The Wireless Telegraphy (Licence Charges for the 900 MHz Frequency Band and the 1800 MHz Frequency Band) Regulations 2018[^f00003] are revoked.

• (2) Where, immediately before the coming into force of these Regulations, any sums payable to OFCOM by virtue of a relevant provision are outstanding, those sums are to be treated on and after coming into force of these Regulations as—

• (a) outstanding so far as they remain unpaid, and

• (b) recoverable on the same basis as if they were payable under provision made by these Regulations.

• (3) “Relevant provision” means regulations 4 and 5 of the Wireless Telegraphy (Licence Charges for the 900 MHz Frequency Band and the 1800 MHz Frequency Band) Regulations 2018.

Signed

David Willis — Director of Spectrum Group — For and by the authority of the Office of Communications — 13th August 2025

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

EXPLANATORY NOTE

These Regulations set the level of charges payable to the Office of Communications (“OFCOM”) in respect of the Spectrum access 900 MHz and 1800 MHz licence class, for wireless telegraphy licences granted under section 8 of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006 which authorises the use of the frequencies 880.1 to 914.9 megahertz and 925.1 to 959.9 megahertz, 1710.0 to 1781.7 megahertz and 1805.1 to 1876.7 megahertz.

Regulation 3 prescribes the licence charges payable for the 900 MHz frequency band from 31st October 2025.

Regulation 4 prescribes the licence charges payable for the 1800 MHz frequency band from 31st October 2025.

Regulation 5 allows the holders of the Spectrum Access 900 MHz and 1800 MHz licence classes to pay the licence charges due under Regulation 3 or 4 by twelve monthly instalments.

Regulation 6 revokes the Wireless Telegraphy (Licence Charges for the 900 MHz Frequency Band and the 1800 MHz Frequency Band) Regulations 2018 and prescribes that any outstanding payments under each of the Wireless Telegraphy (Licence Charges for the 900 MHz Frequency Band and the 1800 MHz Frequency Band) Regulations 2018 are still payable and recoverable on the same basis as if they were payable under provision made by these Regulations.

An impact assessment of the effect that this instrument will have on the costs to business under the Better Regulation Framework has not been prepared as these Regulations are in connection with a tax, duty, levy or other charge. However, in accordance with section 7 of the Communications Act 2003, Ofcom carried out and published an assessment of the likely impact of implementing these Regulations in its public consultation (available at: www.ofcom.org.uk). An updated impact assessment was also included in their final policy statement (also available at: www.ofcom.org.uk).

Footnotes

[^f00001]: Words in section 12(5) inserted (8.6.2010) by Digital Economy Act 2010 (c. 24), sections 38(2) and 47(1). Section 12(6) to (9) inserted (8.6.2010) by Digital Economy Act 2010 (c. 24), sections 38(3) and 47(1).

[^f00002]: 2006 c. 36.

[^f00003]: S.I. 2018/1368.