60-meter band

Several decades in use, an increasing proportion of countries' telecommunications administrations – together with their government and military users – have permitted Amateur Radio operation in the 5MHz area on a short or longer-term basis, ranging from discrete channels to a frequency band allocation.

This is done through successive World Radiocommunication Conferences (WRCs), which take place approximately every 3–5 years, when telecommunications administrations and organizations from all around the globe meet to make decisions on these elements.

This resolution invited WRC-15 to consider "The possibility of making an allocation of an appropriate amount of spectrum, not necessarily contiguous, to the amateur service on a secondary basis within the band 5250–5450 kHz".

Less affected by D-Layer absorption than 80 m, the 60-meter (5 MHz) band is an ideal candidate for near vertical incidence skywave (NVIS), the most commonly used technique capable of providing seamless local-to-medium distance HF communications.

The aim of the system is to explore the propagation conditions on 5 MHz in the hills and valleys of Switzerland in relation to its possible suitability as an Emergency Communications band.

The German (ITU Region 1) Amateur Radio Club (DARC) operates a propagation information beacon, under the non-amateur call sign DRA5 (JO44vo), on 5195 kHz, which transmits in CW (Morse code) plus various digital modulation systems.

[21] High Power night time broadcasts have been utilized in exercises to provide information and instructions from the Government to Amateur radio operators across North America.

As a part of preparation of justification for a 60-meter band, the ARRL organized a group of twelve amateur radio operators, most of whom had experience in trying to communicate with stations in the Caribbean to obtain eyewitness reports of hurricanes in that region.

[22] (Source: C31CT) Argentina (ITU Region 2): Following petitions to their regulator over a number of years, the Argentine national society, The Radio Club Argentino (RCA) has succeeded in obtaining changes and additions to their bands.

Austria (ITU Region 1): In December 2020, the frequency range of 5351.3 to 5366.5 was allocated to the amateur radio service on a secondary basis with a maximum radiated power of 15 W EIRP by the Austrian telecom regulator BMVIT.

[31] Bosnia & Herzegovina (ITU Region 1): Bosnia & Herzegovina have been authorized by their regulator, RAK, for 5 MHz operation under the new WRC-15 Secondary Allocation 5351.5 – 5366.5 kHz with a maximum power of 15 W EIRP[32] Botswana (ITU Region 1): The new WRC-15 Amateur Secondary 60 m allocation of 5351.5 – 5366.5 kHz is reported by the South African Radio League (SARL) to have been released by the Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA) at a maximum power of 15 W EIRP.

(Source: Dutch Caribbean AT, PH2M, W8GEX, DX-World) China (ITU Region 3): The new WRC-15 amateur 60 m band 5351.5—5366.5 kHz at 15 W EIRP became available to Chinese class B & C licensees from July 1, 2018[35][36] according to The No.46 Order of Ministry of Industry and Information Technology released on April 18, 2018.

Prior to that, in July 2010 Amateurs were given special license access to 5 MHz on an individual, experimental basis which permitted operation from 5260 – 5410 kHz on all modes, the licences being valid for 1 year.

[46] Faroe Islands (ITU Region 1): Stations have as from 1 Jun 2012 been granted the spectrum 5250 – 5450 kHz, all-mode with secondary status by their regulator, Fjarskiftiseftirlitiðthe, (FSE).

[50] Greece (ITU Region 1): A ministerial decision dated 26 February 2019 introduced a new Frequency Allocation Table, which authorizes amateur radio use of 5351.5 – 5366.5 kHz on a secondary basis.

India (ITU Region 3): The Indian Government's Telecommunications regulator has published a 2018 Update to the Indian National Frequency Plan, effective 25 October 2018, which includes a new band at 5 MHz / 60 m. This is the WRC-15 Amateur Secondary allocation of 5 351.5 – 5 366.5 kHz with a Maximum Power of 15 W EIRP[54] Indonesia (ITU Region 3): The Ministry of Communications and Informatics of Indonesia issued new Amateur Radio Regulations dated December 31, 2018.

[55] Israel (ITU Region 1): At the end of 2020, the Israeli telecom regulator, IMOC, the Ministry of Communications, released the new WRC-15 amateur 60 m Secondary allocation of 5351.5 – 5366.5 kHz with a maximum power limit of 25 W at the transmitter output.

(4X1LT, IMOC)[56] Italy (ITU Region 1): The Minister of Economic Development approved, with a Decree of October 5, 2018, an update to the Italian National Frequency Distribution Plan between 0 and 3,000 GHz.

At this time no maximum power limit has been indicated and this will be further clarified with the Ministry by discussions with AARSK, who are also advocating use of the IARU Region 1 60 m Provisional Bandplan.

[76] Portugal, including the Azores Islands (ITU Region 1): In November 2016, the telecommunications regulator, ANACOM, permitted 5 MHz operation on the new WRC-15 60 m allocation 5351.5–5366.5 kHz, 15 W EIRP (Source CT1EEB) Republic of Ireland (ITU Region 1): Irish regulator ComReg published on 22 May 2023 an amended version of the Amateur Station Guidelines in Document ComReg 09/45 R5.The main revision is that the WRC-15 band of 5351.5 to 5366.5 kHz has been added with immediate effect on a secondary basis The power is 15 watts PEP (12 dBW) measured at the output of the transmitter or amplifier.

In addition, the channel 5290 kHz has been allocated for WSPR beacons deployed in the SARL 5 MHz Propagation Research project and members can continue to use this frequency.

[83] (Source: TA4ED, BTK, W8GEX) United Arab Emirates (ITU Region 1): Amateurs in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have access to 60 m. The UAE National Frequency Plan published by the national regulator, TRA – The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, shows the WRC-15 Secondary allocation of 5351.5 to 5366.5 kHz together with ITU footnote 5.133B which indicates that the maximum power permitted is 15 W EIRP.

[84] (Source: TRA, A65DR, W8GEX) Uruguay (ITU Region 2): On February 16, 2017, the Uruguay telecommunications regulator, URSEC (Unidad Reguladora de Servicios de Comunicaciones) published new amateur radio regulations (Resolución No 026/2017),[85] effective from Feb 1 2017, which included the allocation on a Secondary basis of 5351.5 to 5366.5 kHz to the amateur service for Superior (A1) only licensees with maximum power permitted of 25 W EIRP.

Prior to this Canadian Amateurs were allowed at the beginning of April 2012 to apply for special interim 5 MHz / 60 m development licences under the VX9 callsign series by their regulator, Industry Canada.

In the meantime, amateurs were invited to apply to IC for a special interim 5 MHz / 60 m developmental licence in order to have the opportunity of gaining early access to these frequencies.

[89] (Source: ECTEL, Dominica NTRC) Honduras (ITU Region 2): The National Telecommunications Commission (CONATEL) allows general, advanced and superior class licenses to operate on five center frequencies (5332, 5348, 5368, 5373, and 5405 kHz), in USB, with an Effective Radiated Power of 50 watts.

Republic of Ireland (ITU Region 1): In early January 2013, the regulator, ComReg, announced that those Irish amateurs who have taken out the special 5 MHz licence can apply for three more 3 kHz-wide channels, 5300, 5332 and 5348 kHz.

In addition, the channel 5290 kHz has been allocated for WSPR beacons deployed in the SARL 5 MHz Propagation Research project and members can continue to use this frequency.

St. Kitts and Nevis (ITU Region 2): In September 2015, General and Advanced Class amateurs received permission to operate on 5 MHz on a Secondary basis.

[93] (Source: ECTEL – Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority) St. Lucia (ITU Region 2): Amateurs have received permission to operate on 5 MHz on a Secondary basis.