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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
2.—(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;
(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.Document Generated: 2026-04-29
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“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
11. 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
12. 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
13. 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
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(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
8th April 2026 Communications
3Document Generated: 2026-04-29
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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.
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