Annual Licence Fees > Introduction

What are Annual Licence Fees (ALFs)?

Ofcom, the telecoms regulator,  is responsible for authorising civil use of the radio spectrum and achieves this by granting wireless telegraphy licences under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006 (the “WT Act”) and by making regulations exempting users of particular equipment from the requirement to hold such a licence.

Under section 12 of the WT Act Ofcom must prescribe in regulations the sums payable in respect of wireless telegraphy licences other than those awarded by auction.

Position Statement

Mobile UK is calling for the removal of or a substantial reduction in the Annual Licence Fees paid by the mobile operators, on the grounds that they are no longer needed to promote efficient use of spectrum and that what is effectively a £300m+ spectrum tax is a major drag on the investment the UK needs to meet the Government’s ambition of having world class mobile infrastructure in the UK, including standalone 5G to all populated areas by 2030.