Only public radio traffic, such as citizens' band (CB) radio, amateur radio and, as an exception, aeronautical radio, may be intercepted in Switzerland without restrictions.
Interception of non-public transmissions, such as police and company radio, is illegal and punishable by law.
Which frequencies can be legally intercepted?
Where can I find information about spectrum usage?
Our regulation for frequency usage can be found in the NFAP (National Frequency Allocation Plan) where the applications are listed in the "Notes" column and the RIR are referenced.
For the exact technical requirements, the RIR (Technical Interface Requirements) are authoritative. In the RIR you will find the details of the application (No. 2), usable frequency band (No. 3), output power (No. 7), duty cycle (No. 8), licensing (No. 9, license required = license necessary, license exempt = without license) as well as the possible applicable standards (No. 13).
In the group "Drafts" planned adjustments to the RIR are published.
What are the requirements for the equipment?
There are various requirements for a radio equipment use (e.g. wireless devices, such as radios, baby monitors, drones, cell phones, etc.):
- The conformity of frequency use according to RIR (interface requirements).
For information, see also the question 'Where can I find information on frequency usage?'
- The conformity of the equipment according to FAV (Ordinance on Telecommunications Equipment, SR 784.101.2).
The equipment used must meet the Conditions for placing on the market. These include, among other things, the obligation to carry out a valid conformity assessment procedure. (e.g. CE - mark). Further information can be found at https://www.bakom.admin.ch/bakom/en/homepage/equipments-and-installations/market-access-of-radiocommunications-equipment.html
The requirements for equipment in Switzerland is essentially equivalent to the RED (Radio Equipment Directive 2014/53/EU).
We have summarized information on the purchase or import of radio equipment abroad in leaflets at https://www.bakom.admin.ch/bakom/en/homepage/equipments-and-installations/information-notes.html
Which frequencies can be used "freely"?
List of frequency uses for which no license, no prior notification and no radio operator certificate are required: Frequency uses without restrictions (Annex 1 VVNF) (admin.ch) (de).
Where can I find information about drones?
The page Drones and model aircraft (admin.ch) contains the relevant information.
Is WiFi 6E permitted in Switzerland?
In Europe (and also Switzerland), both frequency and device regulation must be completed before end devices can be used.
Frequency regulation
The technical and regulatory framework for the release of the 5945-6425 MHz frequency band for WiFi 6E in Europe (48 CEPT countries* including Switzerland) was defined in ECC Decision (20)01 and published in November 2020.
Switzerland has implemented this ECC decision.
The regulation for spectrum usage is described in detail in the Radio Interface Requirements (RIR) and is referenced accordingly in the National Frequency Allocation Plan (NFAP).
Based on ECC Decision (20)01 and the ETSI standard, the RIR1010-11 has been developed for this new WAS/RLAN band which defines the conditions of use. Thus, this application can be used on the entire territory of Switzerland without a license.
Device regulation (conformity of devices)
Note that for a WiFi 6E wireless Internet connection, both the phone and a wireless router (access point) must be WiFi 6E-compliant.
Both devices must meet the Conditions for placing on the market. These include, among other things, the obligation to carry out a valid conformity assessment procedure.
Conformity with the radio requirements can most easily be demonstrated by applying a standard developed by ETSI (European Telecommunication Standardization Institute) and published by the EU Commission in the European Official Journal (OJEU) (self-declaration by the manufacturer). When such a standard is applied, there is a presumption of conformity throughout Europe.
If no such standards exist or are not applied by the manufacturer, then a conformity assessment body ('notified body') must be consulted.
WiFi 6E devices produced for other markets (e.g. USA) may not be approved for the European (Swiss) market, as the frequency bands used may be different. Information on this can be found on the OFCOM homepage under 'Devices and equipment’.
What are possible hurdles?
The publication from the ETSI standard could be delayed, which could make the conformity assessment more burdensome.
* The Electronic Communications Committee (ECC) is the body responsible for frequency issues at the Conférence Européenne des Administrations des Postes et des Télécommunications (CEPT), an association of the 48 European countries to which Switzerland also belongs. Further information can be found at: https://www.cept.org/ecc.
Last modification 12.01.2022
