Public telecommunications service (PTS) licence

A PTS licence lets you operate one or more stations to provide a public mobile telecommunications service (PMTS). 

The station communicates with individual devices in a particular area.

For example:

• from a central office to staff working in mines
• from a main machine to other machines

A PTS licence is an assigned licence. 

The Radiocommunications (Interpretation) Determination 2015 defines PTS licences.

You can apply for a class B PTS licence.

We no longer give class A or class C licences.

Class B licence

A class B licence lets you operate a land station in these paired frequency ranges:

• 825 to 845 / 870 to 890 MHz
• 890 to 915 / 935 to 960 MHz
• 1710 to 1785 / 1805 to 1880 MHz
• 1920 to 1980 / 2110 to 2170 MHz

The cellular mobile telecom devices class licence sets the rules for hand-held devices that connect to the land station.

When you have a PTS licence, you must follow the conditions of your licence.

These include:

• conditions of the Radiocommunications Act 1992 (the Act)
• Licence Condition (Apparatus Licence) Determination 2015
• Licence Conditions (PTS Licence) Determination 2024
• other conditions that apply to you under ‘special conditions’

These conditions help you communicate safely and without interference.

We will include information you should be aware of under the heading 'advisory notes'.

We do not give call signs for PTS licences.

We charge fees for apparatus licences.

In some circumstances, you can apply for a licence fee exemption or concession.

As well as needing a licence to operate devices and equipment, you will also need to comply with our technical standards. 

These include:

• some general standards – see Schedule 5 to the General Equipment Rules
• the Radiocommunications (Electromagnetic Compatibility) Standard 2017
• the Electromagnetic Energy (EME) Standard – see Schedule 4 to the General Equipment Rules.

Read more about our technical standards including our general radiocommunications standards, the EMC standard and the EME standard.

If your device or equipment does not meet the rules in our technical standards, you will need a permit to supply, use or have it. This is separate from a licence. Find out about permits and fees under the General Equipment Rules.

To apply for a PTS licence you should contact an accredited person.

They can:

• coordinate a station
• register the station with us
• assign frequencies
• help you register devices on specific frequencies

Transfer a PTS licence

You can apply to:

• transfer your PTS licence to someone else
• let someone else use a device under your licence

See technical details for PTS licences.