The good news here is that either way it's very easy and inexpensive!
In many cases you do not need a licence to operate a 60GHz point-to-point wireless link in the UK, but it depends on the radio’s total transmit power know as the EIRP. This is made up of the radios transmit power and the antenna gain to give you the total EIRP.
In the UK, Ofcom allows licence-exempt operation in the 57–71GHz band under certain technical limits.
Licence-exempt 60GHz operation
You generally do not need an Ofcom licence if:
- the equipment operates within the 57–71GHz band
- the system complies with Ofcom IR2030 rules
- the radio operates at or below 40dBm EIRP outdoors
This is why radios such as
- Ubiquiti airFiber 60
- MikroTik Wireless Wire
- low-power Tachyon deployments
can be installed without applying for a licence.
When you do need a licence
You need an Ofcom Spectrum Access: EHF Licence if the radio exceeds the licence-exempt power limits, above 40dBm EIRP
The licence:
- costs £75 for 5 years
- covers unlimited installations in 60GHz across multiple locations. Just one license allows you to install as many 60GHz links as you wish.
- is coordinated on a non-protected basis.
- Can applied for from Ofcom here
Why many modern 60GHz radios stay licence-free
Manufacturers often:
- geo-lock UK regulatory settings
- automatically reduce power
- cap EIRP to legal limits
So many deployments are effectively plug-and-play from a compliance standpoint.
Important practical distinction
| Scenario | Licence Needed? |
|---|---|
| Indoor 60GHz link | Usually no |
| Outdoor 60GHz ≤40dBm EIRP | Usually no |
| Outdoor high-power long-distance 60GHz >40dBm EIRP | Yes |
| 5GHz backup radio | Depends on frequency/power |
What about 5GHz backup radios?
This matters for products like the Tachyon TNA-305X.
In the UK:
- most standard 5GHz Wi-Fi bands are licence exempt
- but some outdoor fixed wireless bands historically required licences (especially 5.8GHz Band C)
Ofcom has recently been moving more 5.8GHz fixed wireless usage toward licence exemption, but installers still need to ensure:
- DFS compliance
- legal EIRP limits
- correct channel usage
To sum up...
60GHz is a really attractive option for high data, short to medium range PTP and PTmP networks and offers a virtually interference free solution.
- short-to-medium range 60GHz links are typically licence exempt
- high-power carrier-style backhaul links may require the Ofcom EHF licence
- always check the radio’s configured EIRP and antenna gain before deployment
If you do need a license, one £75 license covers you for multiple links for 5 years making it incredibly cost effective.