2012 No. 3138

Electronic Communications

The Wireless Telegraphy (Limitation of Number of Licences) Order 2012

Made

Coming into force

The Office of Communications (“OFCOM”) make the following Order in exercise of the powers conferred by section 29(1) to (3) of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 20061 (“the Act”).

Before making the Order 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 the representations made to them before the time specified in that notice in accordance with section 122(4)(c) of the Act.

Citation, commencement and extent1

1

This Order may be cited as the Wireless Telegraphy (Limitation of Number of Licences) Order 2012 and shall come into force on 4th January 2013.

2

This Order shall not extend to the Channel Islands or to the Isle of Man.

Limitation of licences2

1

The Office of Communications (“OFCOM”) shall grant a limited number of wireless telegraphy licences for the use of frequencies in the following frequency bands in the United Kingdom—

a

791-821 megahertz;

b

832-862 megahertz;

c

2500-2690 megahertz.

2

In determining the number of licences to be granted for the use of frequencies in these frequency bands and the persons to whom the licences will be granted, OFCOM shall apply the procedure set out in the Wireless Telegraphy (Licence Award) Regulations 20122.

Ed RichardsChief Executive of the Office of CommunicationsFor and by authority of the Office of Communications
EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order specifies frequencies for which the Office of Communications (“OFCOM”) will grant wireless telegraphy licences.

Article 2(1) provides that a limited number of licences will be granted for the use of frequencies in the specified frequency bands. Article 2(2) sets out the criteria that OFCOM will apply in determining the limit on the number of licences and the persons to whom the licences will be granted.

A full regulatory impact assessment of the effect that this Order will have on the costs to business is available to the public from the OFCOM library at Riverside House, 2a Southwark Bridge Road, London SE1 9HA (Tel: 020 7981 3000) or on the OFCOM website at www.ofcom.org.uk. Copies of the impact assessment have also been placed in the libraries of both Houses of Parliament.