The 2025 ITU Radio Regulations Update: What UK Antenna Users Need to Know

The International Telecommunication Union's Radio Regulations are the international treaty framework that underpins how radio spectrum is allocated and managed across the globe. Updated at World Radiocommunication Conferences (WRCs) held every four years, the most recent edition took effect on 1 January 2025 following WRC-23. For antenna users, specifiers and manufacturers in the UK, the updated regulations carry practical implications worth understanding.

What the ITU Radio Regulations Are

The ITU Radio Regulations form a binding treaty between member states. They establish which frequency bands are allocated to which radio services — fixed, mobile, satellite, broadcasting, radio navigation, amateur — and set the rules for coordination between services to prevent harmful interference. In the UK, Ofcom implements ITU allocations through the UK Interface Requirements and the National Frequency Allocation Table.

Key Changes from WRC-23

The 6 GHz Band. One of the most significant decisions at WRC-23 was the identification of the upper 6 GHz band (6425–7125 MHz) for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) — making this spectrum available for 5G in countries that choose to implement it. The UK's Ofcom has proposed a spectrum sharing approach for the upper 6 GHz band that would allow both licensed IMT use and unlicensed Wi-Fi 6E operation. For antenna specifiers, this means the 6 GHz band is emerging as a relevant frequency range for future 5G and WLAN antenna specifications.

Satellite Services. WRC-23 included significant decisions on non-geostationary satellite orbit (NGSO) systems — the class of constellation that includes low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite networks. Updated coordination frameworks have implications for ground-based antenna installations in L, S, Ku and Ka frequency bands. As LEO satellite connectivity becomes more widely deployed, the RF environment in those bands becomes more complex, and ground antenna design needs to account for it.

High-Altitude Platform Stations (HAPS). Additional spectrum was identified for HAPS operations at WRC-23. While this remains a relatively nascent technology category, HAPS systems — effectively persistent, stratospheric relay stations — are attracting serious investment as a complement to terrestrial and satellite networks.

Ofcom's Role in UK Implementation

Ofcom is the national competent authority responsible for implementing ITU decisions in the UK. Following Brexit, the UK continues to participate in ITU processes and implement ITU Radio Regulations into national law, but is no longer bound by EU spectrum coordination frameworks — giving Ofcom somewhat more flexibility in how it approaches domestic spectrum management.

Ofcom's mmWave spectrum auction — its largest-ever spectrum release, making 5.4 GHz of spectrum available in the 26 GHz and 40 GHz bands — reflects both ITU allocation decisions and Ofcom's own spectrum strategy. The outcome of this auction will shape UK 5G infrastructure deployment for years to come.

Staying on Top of Regulatory Change

For most antenna users, frequency band stability is high for established services: PMR, TETRA, cellular, GNSS, marine VHF. Changes to these are typically incremental and well-telegraphed. Emerging bands such as the 6 GHz band, mmWave frequencies and satellite-integrated services are all in active development and need watching closely for specifications with a multi-year planning horizon.

Contact Renair's technical team at renair.co.uk/contact-us to discuss frequency band suitability for your project.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the ITU Radio Regulations?

The ITU Radio Regulations are an international treaty, updated every four years at World Radiocommunication Conferences, that governs how radio spectrum is allocated and used globally. In the UK, Ofcom implements the ITU framework through national licensing and spectrum management.

When did the 2025 ITU Radio Regulations come into effect?

The regulations agreed at WRC-23 (held in 2023) came into effect on 1 January 2025. They represent the current international framework for spectrum use until the next update following WRC-27.

Will the 6 GHz band be available for 5G in the UK?

WRC-23 identified the upper 6 GHz band for IMT (5G) use. Ofcom is developing its approach, proposing a spectrum sharing framework allowing both licensed 5G and unlicensed Wi-Fi 6E use. The timeline for commercial deployment in this band in the UK is still to be confirmed.

Does Brexit affect how ITU rules apply in the UK?

The UK remains a member of the ITU and continues to implement ITU Radio Regulations. Brexit means the UK is no longer coordinated through EU spectrum policy mechanisms, giving Ofcom greater flexibility in some areas of domestic spectrum management — but the ITU framework itself continues to apply.