Ofcom today announced plans to simplify the licensing of private radio communications used by a wide range of businesses, including taxi and courier firms, utilities and supermarket chains.These changes will come into effect in early 2008 and are designed to:

• Reduce complexity: 21 different types of licence, covering 50,000 licensees, will be replaced by three basic types:
  1. Light Licences – a simple licence that does not require coordination with other spectrum users;
  2. Area Defined Licences for geographically based national or regional use; and
  3. Technically Assigned Licences for dedicated or specialist services at a specific location or local area.
• Increase flexibility: Existing restrictions on the type of technology and use will be removed within each category, freeing use of the spectrum. However, minimum technical conditions will remain in place to protect against harmful interference.
• Simplify administration: Ofcom will introduce an online system to allow businesses to apply for and manage their licences directly. The service, called Mobile Assignment Technical System (MASTS), will be available from early 2008.
• Extend spectrum trading: Area Defined Licences and Technically Assigned Licences, covering 35,000 licencees, will be tradable from early 2008, allowing licensees greater flexibility to acquire additional spectrum or to sell or lease spectrum assets that are no longer required.