If you wish to operate a radio device in Australia, the device must be authorised by a radiocommunications licence.
Your device may already be authorised to operate by one of the ACMA's class licences.
The following table of commonly used class licences will assist you to determine if one of the class licences is suitable for your device. If you have a device of the type listed in the first column of the table, please read the information mentioned in the second column and refer to the class licence mentioned in the third column to see if your device complies with the relevant requirements.
If you cannot operate your device so that it satisfies all of the criteria specified within any one of the class licences, it will be necessary for you to apply to the ACMA for an individual apparatus licence or negotiate with a spectrum licensee to operate under a spectrum licence.
| Device Examples | Information | Class Licence |
|---|---|---|
Satellite communications equipment, for example:
|
Some satellite operators have already paid for an apparatus licence that covers the operation of all devices used within their system. Other satellite operators have not paid a licence in this way and the uplinks and downlinks which use their system all require a licence. Your satellite operator will be able to advise whether your device requires a licence. Further information is also available. | Radiocommunications (Communication with Space Object) Class Licence 1998 |
Wireless local area network (LAN) or private automatic branch exchanges (PABXs) for:
|
The information paper Low Interference Potential Devices provides details on relevant frequency ranges and power outputs. | Radiocommunications (Low Interference Potential Devices) Class Licence 2000 |
| Wireless microphones | Depending on the frequency range and the power output of your device, it may already be authorised. The information paper on Low Interference Potential Devices and class licence provides further information. | Radiocommunications (Low Interference Potential Devices) Class Licence 2000 |
| Cellular mobile phones |
It is recommended that you make prior arrangements with your communications carrier or service provider to establish a mobile phone roaming agreement for Australia. Or you can contact a communications carrier or service provider on your arrival. If you comply with the roaming agreement you will be automatically authorised by either the relevant class licence or spectrum licences that have been established for this purpose. The information paper Cellular mobile telcommunications devices provides further detail. |
Radiocommunications (Cellular Mobile Telecommunications Devices) Class Licence 2002 |
| Remote control of models | The class licence authorises the operation of models on land, water and in the air. Refer to the information paper Radio-controlled Models and the class licence for details. |
Radiocommunications (Radio controlled Models) Class Licence 2002 |
| Citizen band radio stations (CBRS) | The information paper Citizen Band Radio Stations provides details on arrangements for CBRS in Australia. Refer to the class licence to determine if your device is already authorised to operate. | Radiocommunications (Citizen Band Radio Stations) Class Licence 2002 |
| Personal handphone, for short range person to person communications | The information paper 27 MHz Handphone Stations provides details on relevant radio channels, etc that may be used. Refer to the class licence to determine if your device is already authorised to operate. | Radiocommunications (27 MHz Handphone Stations) Class Licence 2002 |
| Cordless telephones |
The information paper Cordless telecommunications devices provides details on permitted operating frequencies, and other relevant information. Refer to the class licence to determine if your device is authorised to operate. |
Radiocommunications (Cordless Communications Devices) Class Licence 2001 |
| Personal marine distress beacons, such as emergency position indicating radio beacons (EPIRBs) and other satellite distress beacons. |
The information paper Emergency locating devices provides detail about the conditions for operation, and other relevant information. Refer to the class licence to determine if your device is authorised to operate. |
Radiocommunications (Emergency Locating Devices) Class Licence 2006 |
| Infrared frequency devices | The class licence authorises the operation of infrared spectrum for any purpose, up to a certain power level. Please refer to the information paper Low Interference Potential Devices and the class licence for further information. |
Radiocommunications (Low Interference Potential Devices) Class Licence 2000 |
| Miscellaneous low power devices | Many devices are authorised by this particular class licence, which was established for devices that operate within specific frequency bands over a short range, on very low power output. Some examples of types of device addressed by the class licence are wireless audio transmitters, telemetry transmitters, auditory assistance transmitters, and radio frequency identification transmitters. Refer to the class licence to determine if your device is already authorised to operate. | Radiocommunications (Low Interference Potential Devices) Class Licence 2000 |
A complete list of all class licences and relevant information papers is available from the ACMA's website.
