UK comms regulator Ofcom has opened three separate consultations on its spectrum work, which relate to: changing satellite gateway fees; a proposed new non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) gateway licence for Amazon Kuiper; and introducing short notice, short duration licences in the lower 2.3 GHz band to support demand from the Shared Access and PMSE (programme making and special events) communities for quick spectrum access to deliver innovative new services.
Satellite Gateway fees
In recent years there has been a significant growth in demand for spectrum from the satellite sector as it provides connectivity to an increasing number of households and businesses.
Ofcom has facilitated this this growth by making more spectrum available, including for satellite ‘gateways’ – components in satellite networks that connect the data beamed via satellites to the internet). However, increasing demand means that NGSO gateways can contribute to spectrum scarcity (for other satellite users and fixed services).
Ofcom is therefore proposing to use Administered Incentive Pricing (AIP) rather than flat fees for NGSO satellite gateway licences, which will encourage users to think carefully about their spectrum needs, incentivise the highest value uses, and in turn promote economic efficiency and growth.
Ofcom already uses this approach for satellite gateway licences for geostationary systems (GSO), and it is proposing to update our AIP fee formula to promote efficient use of spectrum.
Ofcom is also currently considering making Q/V and E spectrum bands available for satellite gateways, and the consultation proposes how it would calculate fees in these bands.
It welcomes responses to the consultation by September 9th 2025.
Proposed NGSO gateway licence for Amazon Kuiper
Separately, Ofcom is proposing to grant an NGSO earth station licence to Amazon Kuiper UK Limited for a gateway site in Bude, Cornwall. This licence would authorise Amazon Kuiper to operate an NGSO gateway earth station which connects to its planned NGSO satellite system, which is also known as ‘Kuiper’. The gateway will help Kuiper provide high- speed, low- latency broadband services to households, businesses and other customers in the UK, as well as backhaul connectivity to telecommunications carriers.
Ofcom is inviting comments on Kuiper’s application, and its proposal to grant this licence, by July 29th 2025.
Short notice, short duration licences in the lower 2.3 GHz band
Ofcom has also opened a consultation on introducing short notice, short duration licences for outdoor and indoor use in the 2320-2340 MHz band.
Under these proposals, the Programme Making and Special Events and Shared Access communities (and other users wishing to deploy a short duration network in spectrum supported by mobile technology) would be able rapidly to secure a licence to use this spectrum on a short-term basis. This provides further support for innovative new spectrum users, and could open up opportunities to use mobile technologies (e.g., 4G and 5G) for news gathering and broadcast of major events.
Ofcom welcomes feedback on these proposals by September 2nd.
Source: https://www.advanced-television.com/2025/07/01/ofcom-opens-3-spectrum-consultations/
