Ham radio regulatory changes abroad

Sweden's telecommunication regulatory agency PTS has taken steps to deregulate Amateur Radio and essentially no longer requires a government license.

Effective last fall, the PTS turned over Amateur Radio operator "certification" to the Society of Swedish Radio Amateurs (SSA), that country's IARU member-society.

Under the new regulatory regime, the SSA administers testing and issues operator certificates and call signs, which have SA prefixes and three-letter suffixes. There's no longer a Morse code requirement for HF access.

The PTS still handles relevant international agreements, such as band allocations, in conjunction with the ITU. Sweden no longer dictates mode-specific subbands within amateur bands, but band plans are in place.

The new call signs can be issued by both the SSA and the PTS, but the SSA option reportedly is less expensive.
All previously issued Swedish call signs are valid for life. Foreign visitors from countries outside the CEPT agreement must still apply to the PTS for temporary operating authority in Sweden.

Kenya's telecommunications regulator, the CCK, recently issued a new schedule of Amateur Radio frequencies, modes and power limits. Ted Alleyne, 5Z4NU, of the Amateur Radio Society of Kenya reports that radio amateurs there now may use 30 meters (10.100 to 10.150 MHz) and 160 meters (1.810 to 1.850 MHz).

The National Telecommunications Commission of Thailand has granted permission through 2005 for all Thai radio amateurs to use 80 and 160 meters during contest periods. HS- and E2- stations may use 1.800-1.825 MHz and
3.500-3.540 MHz, CW or SSB, during contest weekends.

Starting May 1 in the Czech Republic, new regulations provide access to 7.100 to 7.200 MHz for Amateur Radio on a secondary basis. Power output is limited to 250 W PEP. The Czech Republic also has begun issuing Novice class
licenses with OK9-prefix call signs and three-letter suffixes. Operation is permitted on 160, 80, 15 and 10 meters on HF, and up to 2 meters on VHF, at a maximum power output of 10 W.

The Malta Communication Authority has automatically extended HF privileges to "codeless" Class B licensees. Licensees in Malta still must pass a Morse code examination to operate CW on the HF bands, however.

Source: ARRL Letter - courtesy of The American Radio Relay League

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