Do PoC radios need an Ofcom licence?

No. A PoC radio that talks only over the mobile phone networks does not need an Ofcom radio licence, because it never transmits on a business radio frequency of its own. The spectrum it uses belongs to the mobile network operators, who hold the licences, and the handsets are covered in the same way as an ordinary mobile phone.

Summary: You need an Ofcom Business Radio licence to run a conventional radio system on licensed frequencies. A push-to-talk over cellular (PoC) radio carries your voice as data over the mobile networks, so there is nothing for you to license. The exceptions are hybrid handsets that also have a conventional radio inside, and you only need a licence for that part if you use it.

The question comes up because PoC radios look exactly like the two-way radios that do need a licence. Same shape, same push-to-talk button, often the same earpieces. What differs is what happens when you press the button, and that is what decides the licensing.

Why conventional radios need a licence

A conventional two-way radio sends your voice directly to the other radios on a radio frequency. In the UK, using a radio system like that requires a licence from Ofcom, and for most private radio networks the licence family is Business Radio. Ofcom splits it into two kinds. Light licences (Simple UK, Simple Site and Suppliers Light) come with a pre-set list of frequencies that users share and coordinate among themselves. Technical licences (Technically Assigned and Area Defined) are worked out for a specific site or area and need technical coordination by Ofcom.

A Light licence costs £75 for five years. Technical licence fees depend on the details of the application. The licence is not a large cost for most organisations, but it is paperwork, it has to be renewed, and the frequencies on a Light licence are shared with other users.

There is one licence-free option for conventional radio. PMR446 handsets, the small walkie-talkies sold for shops, receptions and small venues, can be used without a licence as long as the equipment complies with Ofcom's rules. Those rules cap the power at 0.5 watts effective radiated power and require a fixed antenna, so PMR446 is built for short distances. Our buyer's guide to radios for security companies compares PMR446, licensed DMR and PoC in more depth.

Why a PoC radio is different

A PoC radio has a SIM card inside. When you press the button, it turns your voice into small packets of data and sends them to the nearest phone mast, exactly as a phone sends a message. From there the audio travels as ordinary internet traffic to a server, which passes it to everyone else in your talkgroup. The only radio link involved is the one between each handset and the mobile network.

That link is already licensed. The UK's mobile network operators hold spectrum licences for the frequencies their networks use, and Ofcom's general exemption regulations cover mobile handsets, which is why nobody applies for a licence to use a mobile phone. A PoC radio is, as far as the network is concerned, another mobile device with a data connection. Our explainer on how PTT over IP works goes through the technology step by step.

So for a PoC radio, there is no Ofcom application, no frequency to choose and no renewal date. What you do need is a SIM with a data plan and mobile coverage where your team works.

When a licence can still apply

There are three situations worth knowing about before you buy.

Hybrid radios. Some handsets combine PoC with a conventional DMR or analogue radio, so a team can talk over the mobile networks across a wide area and switch to direct radio on site. The PoC side needs no licence. The conventional side is a radio transmitter like any other, and using it on business radio frequencies needs a Business Radio licence. Some suppliers sell these handsets with a note that a licence is required, which is where much of the confusion online comes from. If you will only use the PoC side, ask the supplier whether the conventional radio can be switched off or left unprogrammed.

PMR446 modes. A few hybrid handsets include PMR446 channels instead of licensed frequencies. Those can be used licence-free, under the same PMR446 rules as any other licence-free walkie-talkie.

Repeaters and site systems. If a supplier proposes a radio repeater, a base station or any equipment that transmits on its own frequency, that equipment needs its own licence. A PoC system has no repeaters to license; coverage comes from the mobile networks.

What PoC still asks of you

Removing the licence does not remove every consideration. A PoC radio depends on the mobile network where it is used, so the planning question moves from "which frequency and how much power" to "what is the coverage like at our sites". Testing on a real shift, in the places your team actually goes, answers it better than any map. Our page on push-to-talk over cellular covers coverage, SIMs and how teams usually roll it out, and the comparison of push-to-talk radios and traditional two-way radio sets the two side by side.

Teams moving from a licensed system often keep their licence for a while and run both, moving one site or one group at a time. There is no need to cancel the licence the day the PoC radios arrive.

Where RevoNet fits

RevoNet is a push-to-talk over cellular system for UK teams, so there is no Ofcom licence to apply for. The RevoNet Handheld is a dedicated radio with a proper push-to-talk button and RevoSIM connectivity, designed to reduce dependence on a single UK mobile operator. Talkgroups and radios are managed from the RevoNet control room in a web browser.

See the RevoNet radios, check pricing, or request trial radios to try them with your own team on your own sites.

Frequently asked questions

Do PoC radios need a licence in the UK?

No. A PoC radio that uses only the mobile networks does not need an Ofcom radio licence, because the spectrum is licensed to the mobile network operators. You need a SIM with a data plan and mobile coverage where you use it.

Who needs an Ofcom radio licence?

Anyone using a conventional radio system on business radio frequencies, such as licensed UHF, VHF or DMR handsets, needs an Ofcom Business Radio licence. Compliant PMR446 walkie-talkies and mobile devices such as phones and PoC radios do not.

How much is a radio licence in the UK?

Ofcom charges £75 for five years for a Business Radio Light licence, which covers the Simple UK, Simple Site and Suppliers Light licences. Technically Assigned and Area Defined licences are priced according to the technical details of the application.

Do hybrid PoC and DMR radios need a licence?

The PoC side does not. The conventional DMR or analogue side needs a Business Radio licence if you use it on licensed frequencies. If it only uses PMR446 channels, it can be used licence-free under the PMR446 rules.

Do two-way radios need a licence?

It depends on the type. Licensed business radios do, PMR446 walkie-talkies do not, and PoC radios that use the mobile networks do not.

Sources

• Ofcom: Business Radio (licence requirement and licence types, published 5 December 2025)
• Ofcom: Business Radio licensing fees and payment (Light licence fee, updated 26 May 2026)
• Ofcom: Licence-exempt devices (PMR446)
• Ofcom: Analogue and digital PMR446 information sheet (power limit and fixed antenna)
• Ofcom: Wireless Telegraphy Exemption Regulations (general exemption covering mobile handsets)