Expiring spectrum licences

A number of spectrum licences are due to expire between June 2028 and October 2032.

These licences do not automatically renew and we will need to decide whether to renew them.

On 17 December 2020, the Radiocommunications Legislation Amendment (Reform and Modernisation) Act 2020 (the Modernisation Act) received Royal Assent, amending the Radiocommunications Act 1992 (the Act).

The Modernisation Act made changes around expiring spectrum licences:

• we are responsible for considering and making decisions about spectrum licence renewal, including whether renewal is in the public interest
• we are responsible for fixing prices for any renewed licences
• you must apply to us to have your licence renewed
• applications for renewal can only be made during the relevant timeframes (see below for timeframes)
• we have a certain amount of time to decide whether to renew a licence after receiving an application (for most licences in this process it is 6 months)
• we can decide to renew a licence, renew a licence and change its conditions, or not renew a licence at all
• there is no presumed outcome for any expiring licence.

We have published more information about our approach to changes introduced by the Modernisation Act.

Expiring spectrum licences

More information about these spectrum licences is available from the Register of Radiocommunications Licences.

We are currently consulting on developing our approach to these expiring spectrum licences, including:

• establishing a 4-stage process for considering expiring spectrum licences
• determining public interest criteria
• examining use under expiring spectrum licences.

The consultation closes on 24 July 2023.