Under the Telecommunications Act 2021 (of Tynwald), licences are required to run telecommunications systems on the Isle of Man. The types of systems and services to be provided are then authorised as a condition of the licence.
Under the Telecommunications Act 2021, the Communications and Utilities Regulatory Authority exercises its functions in the manner that it considers best promotes the interests of consumers, purchasers and other users of telecommunications services in the Isle of Man. We aim to ensure that all those who run telecommunications systems within the Island are licensed to do so and that each licensee operates under the terms and conditions of its licence.
The Authority works in coordination with other departments to implement the Isle of Man Government’s broader e-business strategy and liaises closely with Ofcom (the UK regulator) on a range of matters, such as telephone numbering and use of spectrum.
The Communications and Utilities Regulatory Authority may issue a licence to offer telecommunications services of any kind, referred to as a Full Operator Licence, or a licence to offer only internet and internet-related services, referred to as an Internet Service Provider Licence (ISP Licence). A Full Operator Licence is required for the provision of traditional fixed and/or mobile voice services. Data services (i.e. internet-related services) such as broadband and voice over internet protocol (VoIP) can be provided under an ISP Licence.
The Isle of Man has its own number range; access to this range is limited and is only available directly from Ofcom by fully licensed operators. Numbers may be supplied by those fully licensed operators however there are rules round those numbers to ensure that companies which are not based on the Isle of Man do not try and pass themselves off as being based on the Island. You may want to talk to Ofcom about UK numbers being used on the Isle of Man. There are a number of requirements placed on fully licensed operators. For more information, see the Principles for Use of IOM Numbers.
In evaluating a licence application, made under the Telecommunications Act 2021, the Authority has to ensure that operators providing telecommunications services on the Island are able to ‘finance the provision of those services’ and must exercise its functions in a manner ‘best calculated to promote the interests of consumers, purchasers and other users of telecommunication services or telecommunication apparatus in the Island (including in particular, those who are disabled or of pensionable age) in respect of the prices charged for, and the quality and variety of, services provided and apparatus supplied.’
If you are granted a telecommunications licence, there will be a requirement to annually submit financial data which will be used to establish the annual licence fee. The Authority has issued guidance on what types of activities are licensed and unlicensed as well as the required supporting documentation for the fee calculation.