Ofcom release totals for licences issued since April 6, 2020
Ofcom have released figures for the number of amateur radio licences issued since April 6, 2020, when the RSGB introduced remotely invigilated online exams
On September 23, 2021, in response to a Freedom of Information request Ofcom said:
Thank you for your request for information about issuing amateur radio licences. We received this request on 2 September 2021 and have considered it under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
You asked:
‘Could you provide the number of amateur radio licences issued since the examination process moved online due to the COVID19 pandemic? Would you be able to possibly break it down into foundation and intermediate licenses? Thank you.’
Our response
We have taken the date on which examinations moved online due to the pandemic as 6 April 2020, as stated on the Radio Society of Great Britain website. Please see the table below for a break down of newly issued licences since then.
3,648 Foundation
1,135 Intermediate
1,032 Full
Source https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0023/225581/Online-Amateur-Licences-.pdf
Note the wording in Ofcom's reply indicates licences issued since April 6, 2020. This suggests the Full total is not be just those who have passed RI Online exams in that time but includes others.
Ofcom do not specifically say Individual licences so any new Club licences might be included in the total. It also raises the question - does a previous Full licence holder who has returned to the hobby after an absence of many years count, for Ofcom's administrative purposes, as a "newly issued licence"?
Given that on September 7, 2021 the RSGB reported 544 people had passed their Full licence it does suggest there were several hundred previous Full holders returning to the hobby.
You can submit a Freedom of Information request to Ofcom online at
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/new/ofcom
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Subject: Ofcom release totals for licences issued since April 6, 2020