The use of 5.8 GHz FWA equipment is now licence exempt. The FWA licence operated in the 5725 – 5850 MHz band and allowed point-to-multipoint equipment for WISP Solutions, broadband internet access, and IP video surveillance.
The frequencies and equipment previously licensed can be used without a licence as long as it is operated within the technical conditions set out in the Guidance document and IR2007.
Licence exemption allows certain devices or activities to operate without needing a specific Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006 (the ‘WT Act’) licence. This is typically applied to low-power equipment that is unlikely to cause interference to other services.
The regulations (PDF Status - The Wireless Telegraphy (Exemption) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2026) to implement the first phase of our changes have now come into force. For more information, please refer to the Guidance document.
The band at 5725 MHz to 5850 MHz (Band C) can be used for the Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) services, with particular application in areas where broadband is unavailable through standard delivery platforms. FWA operating at band C can be used to provide broadband services to a range of business, private and public users.
You can install and use CE compliant equipment that meets the spectrum requirements described in interface requirement IR 2007.
Access to 5.8 GHz band C for FWA users is currently permitted throughout the UK on secondary basis, provided that no interference is caused to the primary users in the band. However, Ofcom reserves the right to introduce geographic exclusion zones, if this becomes necessary to protect the primary users in band C.
UK Interface Requirement 2007: Fixed Broadband Services operating in the 5725-5850 MHz band
(PDF, 215.1 KB)