ARLA/CLUSTER: Divulgados os dados estatísticos do n.º de radioamodores britânicos por classes.

[João Costa > CT1FBF]

UK ham radio license statistics released

Ofcom has released a PDF containing the last 7 years of monthly UK
amateur radio license statistics broken down by class

They released the figures after Peter Bowyer submitted a Freedom of
Information (FoI) Request and they cover the period June 2010 to
August 2017, see
 https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/424211/response/1048811/
attach/2/Amateur%20Radio.pdf

They show there were 803 Reciprocal licenses in June 2016 which some
might consider to be a surprisingly high figure. Ofcom do not quote
any figures for the "Amateur Full (Reciprocal) Licence" after that
date.

Overseas visitors do not need a Reciprocal license if they are
visiting the UK for up to 3 months from CEPT T/R 61-01 signatory
countries such as USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or the CEPT
signatories in Europe.

A reciprocal license is only needed if a visitor from the T/R 61-01
signatories is staying in the UK for longer than 3 months or if they
come from countries listed in OfW346 such as Namibia, Qatar, Thailand,
etc.

Ofcom previously issued reciprocal license holders with standard
M*0xxx calls that were indistinguishable from other Full call signs
but they no longer do. Ofcom now use the term "Full (Temporary
Reciprocal) Licence" and their website says:

"If we have issued a reciprocal licence against a bilateral (or
similar) agreement with a country that has not signed up to the CEPT
recommendation, it is a (Temporary Reciprocal) licence. Licensees will
notreceive a UK call sign, they will use their own callsign issued to
them by the licensing authority of their own country. The licence is
only valid for a period of six months."

Oddly that wording doesn't appear in the OfW346 license application
form which was last updated July 12, 2017 something which might
confuse an overseas visitor.
https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/47233/of346.pdf

Prior to 2007 Ofcom would issue "Amateur Full (Reciprocal) Licence"
M*0xxx callsigns to any UK citizen who sat the USA Technician exam and
applied for an FCC license. Since the US Technician exam is a short
straight forward Entry Level exam, many in the UK went for it rather
than having to do the three far harder UK exams. It was a quick way to
a M*0xxx call with the full legal power limit.

Read the amateur statistics FoI request and Ofcom's reply at
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/
amateur_radio_licenses_up_to_dat#incoming-1048811

Ofcom Amateur Radio Information page
https://www.ofcom.org.uk/manage-your-licence/radiocommunication-licences/amateur-radio/amateur-radio-info