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

Discard a spectrum transfer form

Decline a spectrum transfer