What is a Radio Apparatus Licence?

A Radio Apparatus Licence is a unilateral grant of permission by the Regulator to a person or a group of persons, for the installation and use of radio transmitting devices as required by section 12 (2) of the Telecommunications and Radiocommunications Regulation Act No. 30 of 2009 (Act).

A radio licence is required for every radio transmitting equipment and radio frequency emitting device except for certain categories of Telecommunications equipment and radiocommunictions transmitting devices which fall under the General User Radio Licences (GURL). Persons operating those categories of equipment or devices do not need to apply for individual licences to operate them, although the person or persons may be operating those devices to supply telecommunications services to the public.

 Section 12 (2) of the Act says that “A person must not install or operate a radiocommunications device in Vanuatu or its territorial waters or airspace, or in any ship or aircraft registered in or under the law of Vanuatu, except:

(i) under and in accordance with a licence or exception; or

(ii) when such radiocommunications device is registered for use by aforeign registered ship or aircraft for the appropriate class of operation in the country of registration of the ship or aircraft.

Common classes or categories of radio apparatus licences issued are for:

   • Aircraft radio station

   • Amateur radio station

   • Fixed radio station

   • Mobile radio

   • Radio broadcast station

   • Satellite earth station

   • Ships radio station

   • Television broadcast station

   • VSAT station