There are four types of apparatus licence that apply to space based networks:
Earth licence
These are issued to authorise the operation of one or more earth stations, as defined in the Radiocommunications (Interpretation) Determination 2000.
Each individual frequency band used by each station is required to be licensed separately under the Earth licence, except in the following circumstances:
- Amateur satellite frequencies used by Amateur stations (authorised by an Amateur licence) and
- frequencies used to communicate with licensed space stations (authorised by the Radiocommunications (Communication with Space Object) Class Licence 1998.
Under the Earth licence type, two apparatus licensing options are available:
- Fixed Earth, used for earth stations operating from a fixed point that communicate with space stations or with other earth stations via space stations. Relevant frequency assignments are printed on the licence. This licensing option is not used to authorise the operation of mobile earth stations.
- Mobile Earth , used for earth stations that are in motion, or during halts at unspecified points on land, on water, or in the air. Relevant frequency assignments are printed on the licence.
Earth receive licence
These are issued to authorise the operation of one or more Earth Receive stations, as defined in the Radiocommunications (Interpretation) Determinations 2000.
Earth receive stations may be fixed or mobile, and communicate with space stations or with other earth stations via space stations. A receiver that is, or forms part of, an earth receive station requires a licence.
Space licence
This type of licence is issued to authorise the transmission of radio emissions by one or more space stations. The Space licence type is defined in the Radiocommunications Act 1992.
If a Space licence is in place in the following space-to-Earth radiofrequency bands, the operation of an Earth receive station is authorised by the Radiocommunications (Communication with Space Object) Class Licence 1998:
| 137 - 138 MHz | 1525 - 1559 MHz | 2184 - 2193 MHz |
| 400.05 - 400.15 MHz | 1559 - 1610 MHz | 2193 - 2200 MHz |
| 400.15 - 401 MHz | 1613.8 - 1626.5 MHz | 2483.5 - 2500 MHz |
| 1164 - 1215 MHz | 2170 - 2178.5 MHz | 11.7 - 12.75 GHz |
| 1215 - 1260 MHz | 2178.5 - 2184 MHz | 18.8 - 19.3 GHz |
In all other instances apparatus licences must be issued to authorise the earth stations.
Space receive licence
This licence type is used to authorise reception of radio emissions by one or more space stations. The Space Receive licence type is defined in the Radiocommunications (Interpretation) Determinations 2000.
If a Space Receive licence is in place in the following Earth-to-space radiofrequency bands, the operation of an Earth transmit station is authorised by the Radiocommunications (Communication with Space Object) Class Licence 1998.
| 148 - 150.05 MHz | 2000 - 2009 MHz |
| 1610 - 1660.5 MHz | 2009 - 2010 MHz |
| 1980 - 1994.5 MHz | 14.0 - 14.5 GHz |
| 1994.5 - 2000 MHz | 28.6 - 29.1 GHz |
