Radio in Local Loop meaning

Radio in local loop describes the provision of the “last‑mile” connection from customer premises to a provider’s access network over a fixed radio link, rather than a wired copper or fibre line. In practice it is the same concept as fixed wireless access (FWA) or wireless local loop (WLL). The term is descriptive (not defined in legislation or case law) but is used in contracts, spectrum licences and planning materials. Key legal features include: spectrum authorisation (licensing by Ofcom in the UK or ComReg in Ireland, unless using licence‑exempt bands subject to technical limits); compliance with radio equipment and EMC/RED requirements; planning permission and building control for antennas or small masts; and land access, wayleaves or (in the UK) Electronic Communications Code rights for installing base stations and customer premises equipment. Service obligations, SLAs and resilience/backup arrangements are often addressed in commercial and procurement documents. Usage and treatment are broadly consistent across England & Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland. Radio in the local loop can deliver broadband, voice and data where cabling is uneconomic or slow to deploy, linking premises to a nearby base station or access node connected to the public electronic communications network.