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Transfer a spectrum licence
You can transfer a spectrum licence anytime in the Register of Radio Frequencies (RRF).
About spectrum licence transfers
Spectrum licences are held in a Crown or Privately-owned 'Management Right'. The Management Right covers a block of the radio spectrum and is owned by a 'Manager.' The Manager can grant spectrum licence frequencies within the band to a 'Rightholder' (Licence holder).
To transfer a spectrum licence:
- the Rightholder always initiates the process, and
- the Manager approves or declines the transfer.
If a spectrum licence falls across more than one Management Right, all Managers’ will get an email and a task to authorise the transfer.
A spectrum licence transfer is not valid until the Form 9 is registered in the RRF. This means the new rightholder can't start broadcasting until the licence registration commences.
If you don't authorise the Form 9 transfer within 1 month, it will be automatically discarded.
If the transfer is not needed, the Form 9 can be:
- discarded by the Rightholder
- declined by the Manager.
Authorities to transfer Spectrum licences
The Transfer Authority will determine the process you need to follow:
- Rightholder only – they can create the transfer request then submit the Form 9 to RSM.
- Manager only – they can create the transfer request then submit the Form 9 to RSM.
- Rightholder or Manager – either can create the transfer request then submit the Form 9 to RSM.
- Rightholder and Manager – the Rightholder creates the transfer request then the Manager approves (or declines) the Form 9 and (if approved) submits for another confirmation or to RSM.
Note: Your application can only transfer a group of licences within one Management Right. If any licences fall under a different Management Right you will need to create a separate transfer application for each Management Right.
In this section
Request transfer - Rightholder only
Request transfer - Rightholder and manager