Ofcom consultation on innovation licence

The UK regulator Ofcom has published a consultation on introducing an 'innovation licence' for spectrum users.

The 'innovation licence' is designed to allow organisations to launch commercial services that do not easily fit within one of Ofcom's existing licence classes more rapidly than would otherwise be possible.

Initially, Ofcom are proposing that innovation licences are only available in spectrum managed by public bodies (e.g. the Ministry of Defence – MOD).

This may be extended to other bands in the future, although Ofcom do not expect to introduce innovation licences for spectrum that has already been liberalised and tradable.

The consultation closes on 18 December.