If your equipment transmits or receives communications using radio frequencies, you may need authorisation. In Australia that usually means working out whether the system is covered by a class licence, needs an apparatus licence, or operates under a spectrum licence. We will advise the best licensing option for your system.

• A class licence lets you use certain common devices on shared frequencies without applying or paying a fee, as long as you operate within the conditions specified in the class licence.
• An apparatus licence authorises specific transmitters or receivers at specified places or areas, and can normally be applied for over-the-counter.
• A spectrum licence authorises the use of a range of devices within a defined geographic area and frequency band. These are normally only issued via major allocation processes administered by the ACMA (e.g. auction).

• Saves you time—we are equipped to provide a highly efficient service and generally the time needed to obtain a licence through us is much quicker.
• Premium service, competitive pricing—expert frequency assignment and licensing services without the premium price tag.
• Gets you better outcomes—our wealth of experience and specialist knowledge allows us to pursue more favourable licence outcomes and explore non-standard licensing pathways that other APs may be unwilling or unable to pursue.

Yes. Accredited persons can use ACMA’s portal to submit apparatus licence applications, lodge FACs and IICs, and register devices under spectrum licences. Openspec’s current service model is built around managing that process on the client’s behalf.

Yes, but it still has to be technically available and compliant with ACMA’s assignment framework. Openspec can assess requested frequencies and, where possible, coordinate them; if not, we will work to find the next best practical option.

The total fees for a single licence comprise two components:

• Our coordination fee—depends on the type of service being licensed.
• ACMA licence fees & charges—also depend on the type of service, as well as other factors including frequency, bandwidth and location. 

For common licence types feel free to use our ACMA Licence Fee Calculator (you will need to register to see the coordination fee component). For other licence types that are not available in the calculator, please contact us.

Where a licence application falls outside established ACMA requirements, coordination procedures or licensing arrangements, we may apply our standard hourly consultancy rates.

We pride ourselves on efficiency and fast turn-around times. As a first step we will carry out a frequency coordination study to identify the most suitable available frequencies for your system. We aim to inform you of available spectrum options within one business day if possible, however we may need a little longer for multiple licences and non-standard licensing.

With your approval to proceed, we will issue a Frequency Assignment Certificate and lodge the licence application with the ACMA immediately. The time taken by the ACMA to then issue the licence depends on how busy they are and how long it takes for the licence fees and charges to be paid, which Openspec may prepay to speed up the process. Typically ACMA issues a licence within one business day of receiving our application.

For urgent requirements such as interference issues, the total turn-around time for a licence can be as short as a day or two.

Usually we need the site details, equipment details, spectrum requirement, service type and licensee information. However, we can provide advice as early as you require in the project based on the information you have available.

For apparatus licensing, please use our online application system. You will need to register for an account if you don’t already have one.

For spectrum-licensed device registrations, please contact us.