A frequency licence grants the right to use radio frequencies under the terms and conditions determined by the Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority. A radio licence of a vessel or aircraft and the working permit of an amateur radio station are also considered to be frequency licences.
A frequency licence is required if you wish to use radio frequencies in frequency bands or under conditions not specified in the regulation "Conditions and technical requirements for the use of radio frequencies on radio equipment exempted from frequency licence".
Legal bases
The use of radio frequencies is regulated by:
- Electronic Communications Act
- General Part of the Economic Activities Code Act
- Regulation "Estonian Radio Frequency Allocation Plan” (in Estonian)
- Regulation "Technical Requirements for Radio Equipment Used Under a Frequency license” (in Estonian)
- Regulation "Conditions and Technical Requirements for the Use of Radio Frequencies for Radio Equipment Exempted from Frequency Licensing” (in Estonian)
Filling and submitting the application
You can submit your application:
- by entering the JVIS database (authentication via an ID card, mobile ID, Smart-ID or EUeID is required);
- digitally signed at the e-mail address [email protected] (applications can be found on the page Applying for a frequency licence);
- by post to the Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority at Endla 10a, 10142 Tallinn.
Paying the state fee
The state fees need to be paid to the bank account of the Ministry of Finance:
- SEB Pank EE891010220034796011
- Swedbank EE932200221023778606
- Luminor Bank EE701700017001577198
- LHV Pank EE777700771003813400
Reference number: 2900080063
The Authority checks the receipt of the state fee electronically.
The state fee shall not be collected for activities related to:
- the number licences of the pan-European harmonized short number starting with 116, emergency number 112, assistance and information service number 1247, national service short number 110 used in the public interest and mandatory short number for urgent psychological helpthe frequency licence for a radio frequency used for environmental monitoring
- the frequency licence for the radio frequency bands 380-385 MHz and 390-395 MHz
The following are exempt from paying the state fee:
- The Estonian Defence Forces in the case of operations related to using the radio frequency channel provided for the Defence Forces in the radio frequency allocation plan
- an institution under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Climate in activities related to frequency permits necessary to perform the tasks within its competence
- an authority administered by the Ministry of the Interior when performing a task in its competence and using the radio communications equipment required for this
- an owner of a vessel radio licence when adding radio equipment to the radio licence established in the safety equipment list of the Maritime Safety Act
- an owner of an aircraft radio licence upon adding radio equipment to the radio license, required to ensure the safety of human lives
- an owner of a vessel and aircraft radio licence upon adding radio equipment without a frequency licence and used and installed on the vessel and aircraft
- an owner of a frequency licence upon adding reserve radio broadcasting equipment to the frequency licence if the equipment is used under the terms and conditions determined by the frequency licence
- a person with the radio limitation right upon limiting radio communications to ensure law and order as well as national security
- the Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority upon engaging in activities related to frequency licences required for performing tasks in its competence
Processing the application
The Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority shall issue the frequency licence:
- within six weeks of receipt of a relevant application if using the radio frequencies does not require international co-ordination
- within eight months of receipt of a relevant application, if using the radio frequencies requires international co-ordination
Before granting a frequency license or changing the conditions thereof, in certain cases the Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority shall coordinate the conditions of the frequency license with the Health Board.
Before issuing a frequency license, the Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority shall notify the applicant of the frequency license of the restrictions established on the frequency license and the amount of the state fee to be paid.
To acquire a frequency licence, the applicant must pay the state fee within five working days of notification of the state fee. The granting of a frequency license shall be decided upon receipt of the state fee.
The frequency licence is valid a maximum of one year, except a vessel or aircraft radio licence (a maximum of three years) and a working permit of an amateur radio station (a maximum of five years). At the request of the applicant, the frequency authorisation may be granted for a shorter period.
Refusal to grant a frequency license
The Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority shall refuse to grant a frequency licence if:
- the applicant has submitted wrongful data;
- the applicant’s activities may harm people’s health or the environment;
- the activities of the applicant or a member of its management or supervisory body could pose a risk to national security;
- there are no free radio frequency channels;
- use of the radio frequencies is not in compliance with the Estonian radio frequency allocation plan or the legislation that regulates the usage of radio frequencies;
- use of the radio frequencies is not in compliance with the terms and conditions arising from an international agreement;
- use of the radio frequencies may cause radio interference;
- use of the radio frequencies may interfere with the operation of the technical surveillance stationary equipment installed by the Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority at the place where they are located;
- use of the radio frequencies is inefficient;
- the use of radio frequencies is to be commenced at a later date than six months from the date of submission of the application, unless the right to use radio frequencies is granted by means of a public tender;
- use of the radio frequencies shall not be harmonised within the international harmonisation or
- the state fee has not been paid.
Extension of a frequency licence
For the extension of a frequency licence under the terms and conditions in force, the frequency licence owner shall submit an application to the Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority for the extension of the frequency licence no later than one month before the expiry of the licence. For the extension of the frequency licence, the applicant shall be obliged to pay a state fee.
Changing the terms and conditions of a frequency licence
If you would like to change the terms and conditions of the frequency licence, you must submit an application to the Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority.
You can submit your application:
- by entering the JVIS database (authentication via an ID card, mobile ID, Smart-ID or EUeID is required);
- digitally signed at the e-mail address [email protected];
- by post to the Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority at Endla 10a, 10142 Tallinn.
The Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority shall decide whether to amend or not the terms and conditions within the same time limits and on the same basis as when issuing the initial frequency licence.
Supervision
The national supervision of electronic communications shall be carried out by the Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority.
A user of radio frequencies may lodge a complaint with the Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority concerning radio interferences.
Liability
The penalty for the illegal use of a radio frequency or for violating the usage terms and conditions shall be up to 300 penalty units. If it is committed by a legal person, the penalty shall be up to €3,200.
A penalty of up to 300 fine units shall be imposed for sending false or misleading radio communications which may endanger the safety of aeroplanes, vessels, land vehicles or persons or impair the operation of any rescue authority. If it is committed by a legal person, the penalty shall be up to €3,200.
Contacts
Additional substantive information
Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority, phone: +372 667 2000, e-mail: [email protected]
General registry information and technical issues
Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority, phone: +372 668 7080, e-mail: [email protected]