Navigating two-way radio licencing can be confusing, but we’ve got you covered!

In today’s blog post, we answer the questions we get asked most regarding licences to help educate you on the requirements, benefits, and limitations of licencing. And keep you compliant with OFCOM’s UK communication regulations. 

Benefits

First things first, what are the benefits of using licenced two-way radios?

• Licenced devices are 8 X more powerful than licence-free devices!! More powerful devices provide a greater range of communication for your workforce.
• Security! Licenced devices operate on private encrypted channels. This can be a game changer when you work in an environment where sensitive information may be shared, such as in the education sector.
• Licenced devices have more advanced features such as man down, lone worker, GPS etc… These safety features benefit people working shifts or in high-risk environments such as industrial manufacturing sites.
• Licenced devices can be scaled into a full radio communication system with added infrastructure and applications. This helps ensure your radio fleet is ready for growth in the future

What does Licence-free mean?

In the UK band 446 – 446.1 MHz – contains 16 licence-exempt channels. This means that OFCOM has dedicated those 16 channels to be used for licence-free communications.

Licence-free devices often have a fixed antenna and a power output of 0.5 watts also

PMR446 stands for Private Mobile Radio 446 MHz 

This is a UHF frequency range which is licence exempted in the UK. Ultimately, if you see PMR446 mentioned when looking at a device then you will not be required to have a licence to operate it within the UK Traditionally this channel is used by individuals and groups for recreational use.

How much is it to obtain and manage a radio licence?

The basic licence starts at £75 for 5 years.

However, you can get many different licences depending on your communication needs.

For more information on different licencing types or advice on the best licence for your communication needs please contact our team who are more than happy to assist!

At 2WayRadioShop we also offer a stress-free licence management service where we apply and maintain your licence for you

How can I get a licence?

This is the most asked question from our customers regarding radio licencing!

The simple answer – you apply for one through Ofcom.

OFCOM is the regulator of communication services in the UK. They ensure that the radio spectrum is being used in the most effective way to guarantee users have the most stable connection available 

Does each licenced device need its own licence?

I can understand why we get asked this when users are unclear about how the licence works with the devices.

Essentially, when you buy a licence from Ofcom they provide you with a range of frequencies to use in your area to give you the most secure and stable communication.

Once you have the licence (set frequencies) you can have as many devices as you would like programmed to these frequencies.

Any devices that are programmed to this frequency range will be able to communicate with each other.

And last but not least, does each radio user need their own licence?

If the radio users are communicating with one another no, only one will be required to have a licence. This person can then give the other radio users permission to use their licence to communicate.

For example, a business could purchase a radio licence and allow all its employees to use it to communicate.

We hope it has helped answer some of your questions about two-way radio licencing and educated you on OFCOM regulations.

If you have  questions on anything mentioned above, or new questions you would like answered please give our expert  team a call at 0800 328 0100 or email us at service@eemits.co.uk 

Additionally, watch out Two-way Radio Licencing YouTube video

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 – Niamh (Proud member of the 2WayRadioShop Team)