If you operate radiocommunications equipment in Australia, you almost certainly need a licence — even if you've never thought about it. Wi-Fi routers, two-way radios, marine VHF, IoT devices, broadcast transmitters, satellite earth stations: each is governed by the Radiocommunications Act 1992 and one of three licence types. This guide focuses on apparatus licences — the most varied and most commonly required type — and explains how they fit alongside class and spectrum licensing.
Three licence pathways
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) regulates the radiofrequency spectrum under the Radiocommunications Act 1992. There are three categories of licence:
- Class licence — lets you operate common equipment on shared frequencies (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, citizen band radio, low-power IoT). No application, no fee, no licence document. The licence is the legal authority that already exists; you just need to comply with its conditions. The Low Interference Potential Devices (LIPD) Class Licence covers the bulk of consumer wireless.
- Apparatus licence — lets you operate the specific transmitter or receiver named on the licence, at the location or in the area specified. Application required, fee payable, typically renewed annually. This is what businesses operating dedicated radio equipment usually need.
- Spectrum licence — lets you operate any radiocommunications devices within an allocated frequency range and geographic area, usually for up to 20 years. Spectrum licences are typically auctioned, treated as tradeable assets, and used by mobile carriers and large infrastructure operators.
Most users only ever interact with class licences without realising it. If you're reading this article, you probably need an apparatus licence — a private radio network for a fleet, a maritime VHF on a vessel, an aeronautical ground station, an IoT deployment outside the LIPD bands, or similar.
What an apparatus licence is
An apparatus licence is permission to operate specific equipment on specific frequencies at a specific location or in a defined area. The licence is tied to a piece of equipment (or set of devices in some types), not to a person's general right to broadcast.
Apparatus licences cannot be issued for prohibited equipment. ACMA maintains a list of prohibited devices (jammers, certain unauthorised transmitters), and exemptions for prohibited equipment exist only in narrow cases such as authorised use of mobile phone jammers in correctional facilities.
Who can hold one
Apparatus licences can be issued to:
- Individuals
- Incorporated companies
- Government agencies
A licence is normally issued to a single entity, though in special circumstances ACMA may allow more than one named holder. The following cannot hold a licence directly:
- Trusts (the trustee can hold the licence on behalf of the trust)
- Unincorporated associations
- Superannuation funds
- Business names (the registered legal entity behind the business name must hold the licence)
If you're applying as a company, the legal entity name and ACN matter — the licence sits with that legal entity, not with the trading name on your invoices.
Assigned vs non-assigned
Apparatus licences come in two flavours, with very different application paths:
- Non-assigned licences are issued for equipment that doesn't need an individually engineered frequency — the bands and parameters are predefined. You apply directly to ACMA, and the licence is issued without a separate frequency assignment step. Amateur, aircraft, maritime ship and similar licences typically work this way.
- Assigned licences require frequency coordination — ACMA (or an Accredited Person on its behalf) engineers a specific frequency and channel for your equipment that doesn't conflict with other users in the area. Land mobile, fixed, broadcasting, area-wide and most commercial-grade licences are assigned. You can't apply directly to ACMA for an assigned licence — you must go through an Accredited Person.
Accredited Persons are individuals who have been formally authorised by ACMA to perform frequency assignment work and submit licence applications. Techwave is accredited by ACMA for general licensing work, which is what the closing section of this article is about.
The frequency assignment work for an assigned licence is governed by RALIs — Radiocommunications Assignment and Licensing Instructions. These documents (RALI MS01, RALI LM08, RALI MS46 and many others) set out the technical rules that engineers must follow when planning frequency use for each band and licence type. Coordinating to RALIs is the technical heart of an assigned-licence application.
Licence period and renewal
Most apparatus licences are issued for one year. ACMA may issue licences for up to 20 years in special cases, but those requests are reviewed individually. For typical commercial users, expect annual renewal cycles.
Renewal involves two notices from ACMA:
- Validation Notice — a reminder that renewal is approaching. This is the window to make any changes to the licence (transmitter details, location, contact information) before renewal locks in.
- Renewal Notice — the final notice. Pay the renewal fee in full to keep the licence active.
Two practical points worth knowing:
- Renewal isn't automatic. If you miss the payment, the licence lapses. There's no grace period that recovers the licence — you'd need to reapply.
- Changes can't be processed during the renewal period. If you need to update equipment details, addresses, or transfer the licence to another entity, do it before the Validation Notice arrives.
Once issued, a licence remains valid until it expires, is voluntarily surrendered, is cancelled by ACMA for breach of conditions, or is cancelled following the holder breaking relevant laws.
Types of apparatus licence
ACMA issues 16 transmitter licence types and 5 receiver licence types. The right type depends on what you're operating and why.
Transmitter licences:
- Aeronautical — ground stations communicating with aircraft
- Aircraft — radio equipment fixed to an aircraft
- Amateur — hobby radio and technical experimentation (requires a qualification)
- Area-wide — multiple devices within a specified geographic area and frequency band. Used for some 5G mmWave deployments (26 and 28 GHz bands)
- Broadcasting — transmitting TV and radio programs to the public
- Defence — exclusively for Defence operations
- Earth — earth stations communicating with space stations
- Fixed — transmitters at fixed locations (point-to-point links, microwave backhaul)
- Land Mobile — the most common commercial type, covering fixed-to-mobile and mobile-to-mobile (fleet radio, two-way networks)
- LPON (Low Power Open Narrowcasting) — niche radio broadcasting services (e.g. shopping-centre or sporting-venue radio)
- Maritime Coast — maritime frequency equipment based on land
- Maritime Ship — maritime frequency equipment on water
- Outpost — emergency radio services in remote areas
- Public Telecommunications Service — mobile telecom service stations
- Radiodetermination — equipment using radio waves to locate or track objects (radar, RTLS)
- Scientific — research and testing of radio waves and equipment
- Space — space stations communicating with earth stations
Receiver licences are only required when an assigned receive frequency is needed (typically to protect the receiver from interference):
- Defence Receive
- Earth Receive
- Fixed Receive
- Major Coast Receive
- Space Receive
For most users, the right type is fairly obvious from the application: if you're running a private fleet on UHF, that's Land Mobile. If you're putting microwave links between two buildings, that's Fixed. If you're not sure, ask an Accredited Person before going further — the wrong licence type produces wasted application fees and time.
Fees and tax
Apparatus licences carry two financial components:
- Apparatus licence tax — the annual amount paid to keep the licence active. The tax depends on licence type, frequency band, geographic area, and bandwidth. Some licences (e.g. amateur) have flat low fees; commercial fixed and area-wide licences can be substantial
- Administrative charge — fees for issuing, renewing, transferring or modifying the licence. These are smaller and more predictable
ACMA publishes its fee schedules and tax determinations annually. Spectrum auctions and area-wide licences have their own pricing structures. Current apparatus licence fees are on ACMA's website.
For users with assigned licences, the application via an Accredited Person reduces ACMA's administrative burden — ACMA in turn reduces its administrative charge for licences submitted through accredited channels. The Accredited Person usually charges a separate fee for the technical work; whether that's economic depends on the complexity of the assignment.
How to apply
The path depends on whether the licence is assigned or non-assigned:
Non-assigned licence:
- Identify the correct licence type from ACMA's list
- Download the application form for that licence type from ACMA's website
- Submit the application with required documentation directly to ACMA
- Pay the licence fee on issuance
Assigned licence:
- Engage an Accredited Person to perform the frequency assignment
- The Accredited Person determines the correct licence type, applies the relevant RALIs, and engineers the frequency
- The application is submitted via the Accredited Person to ACMA, with assignment data included
- ACMA issues the licence and invoices for the apparatus licence tax
- Operation can begin once the licence is issued and any registration requirements are met
For area-wide licences and other newer licence types, additional steps may apply — for example, AWLs in the 26/28 GHz bands require coordination per RALI MS46 and adherence to power flux density limits at geographic boundaries before operation begins.
Recent developments
The Australian spectrum-management framework continues to evolve. A few recent and ongoing changes worth knowing about:
- Area-wide apparatus licences were introduced for the 26 GHz and 28 GHz mmWave bands to support 5G deployment. AWLs allow multiple devices to be operated within a defined area and frequency range without per-device assignment
- The Low Interference Potential Devices (LIPD) Class Licence was remade in 2025 with updated frequency allocations and power limits for short-range devices, including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, RFID, UWB, wireless microphones and IoT
- Spectrum licence renewals for the 850 MHz and 1800 MHz bands (which underpin much of Australia's mobile network) are being consulted on for renewal ahead of June 2028 expiry
- Cabling RCM labelling transition for previously exempt cabling products ends 30 March 2026, requiring mandatory RCM marking
Spectrum management is a moving target. If your equipment was compliant under an older version of a class licence or RALI, that doesn't necessarily hold under the current version. Periodic compliance review — especially when equipment is being added or replaced — is the practical defence.
Getting help
If you're operating radiocommunications equipment under an assigned apparatus licence, you'll need an Accredited Person to handle the frequency assignment and lodge the application with ACMA. Techwave is accredited by ACMA for general licensing, and our compliance team handles apparatus licence applications, frequency assignments, renewals, transfers, and ongoing management for clients across land mobile, fixed, broadcasting, area-wide, and other licence types.
For non-assigned licences you can apply to ACMA directly, but if you'd like a hand identifying the correct licence type or preparing the application, we're happy to help with that too.
To discuss your licensing needs, start an apparatus licence enquiry — new licence, renewal, modification or transfer — or see ACMA & EESS Affairs.
