Cancel a spectrum licence

You can cancel a spectrum licence online in the Register of Radio Frequencies (RRF) provided you have the correct authority. The RRF automatically creates the Form 10 – Notice of cancellation of spectrum licence when you create the request to cancel.

On this page

When to cancel

If possible, it's best to cancel unwanted licences before renewing your licences, so that you don't pay for them.

Before cancelling your licence

After you login to the RRF, ensure you select the correct role. Only the role(s) stated in the conditions of the licence are authorised to cancel a spectrum licence. These are:

  • Rightholder alone
  • Manager alone
  • Rightholder or Manager
  • Rightholder and Manager together

You can find the spectrum licence authorisations under the licence conditions in the Register of Radio Frequencies (RRF).

  • As Rightholder you cannot cancel licences with Manager alone authorisation.
  • As a Manager you cannot cancel licences with Rightholder alone authorisation.
  • As a Rightholder or Manager, either one can cancel licences.
  • For a Rightholder and Manager together, one creates the request and the other approves it.

Exception

A Manager has the authority to cancel any licence with fees overdue for 6 months or more, even if the licence has Rightholder only authority.

How to cancel your spectrum licence

  1. Logon to the RRF(external link) using RealMe. The ‘My Dashboard’ screen displays.
  2. Select your relevant profile, (i.e. Rightholder or Manager).
  3. Select Maintain > Licence > Cancel. The ‘Cancel Licence’ screen displays. In the Licence to be cancelled section:
    • Click Search to view all relevant licences in the search results, or
    • Enter the licence number of the licence to cancel in the Search field (or enter other search criteria) and click Search to display all relevant licences in the search results.
  4. Click the radio button in front of the licence(s) to cancel.
  5. Click Cancel Selected Licence(s). A window displays to allow you to select the effective date.
    • Select the Effective date of the cancellation.
    • Click OK. RRF creates the Form 10, returns you to the ‘My Dashboard’ screen and displays a message to advise the form has been created. 
  6. Go to the Draft Form 10 task in the Tasks area and click Open. The ‘Form 10 notice of cancellation of spectrum licence’ screen displays.
    • If you selected to cancel more than one spectrum licence, each licence is specified in the text on the Form 10.
  7. Review the details to ensure they are correct and determine your next step:
    • If you no longer want to cancel the licence(s), click Cancel.
      • A confirmation message displays. Click OK to continue. You return to the ‘My Dashboard’ screen. RRF discards the Form 10, and the licence remains current.
      • The process ends.
  8. Click Submit.
    • If you have the authority to act alone:
      • A message displays to advise the Form 10 - Notice of cancellation of spectrum licence has been assigned to the Registrar Review workflow queue.
      • go to step 9.
    • If you require approval from the Rightholder/Manager:
  9. You will receive an email when the licence is cancelled.
    • If any fees are due for renewal, they will be cancelled and removed from your list of licences.
    • If an invoice exists for the fees, a credit note is created and emailed to the relevant party.
    • The process ends.

Approve request to cancel spectrum licence

  1. The Manager/Rightholder receives a task in their ‘My Dashboard’ screen.
    • There may be more than one manager notified if the licence falls across more than one Management Right.
  2. Open (or claim and open) the task and review the Form 10:
    • If you do not approve, click Decline and enter a comment (if required). The application returns to the Rightholder/Manager who submitted the application.
    • If correct, click Approve. A message displays to advise the Form 10 - Notice of cancellation of spectrum licence has been assigned to the Registrar Review workflow queue.
  3. You will receive an email when the licence is cancelled.
    • If any fees are due for renewal, they will be cancelled and removed from your list of licences.
    • If an invoice exists for the fees, a credit note is created and emailed to the relevant party.
    • The process ends.

Note:

A Form 10 – Notice of cancellation of spectrum licence is not valid until registered in the RRF.

You can select to cancel one or multiple licences on a single Form 10.

You cannot reactivate a spectrum licence once it's cancelled.