Title: GB Regulatory Compliance – UNII-3 (5725–5850 MHz) Channels Allowed Despite Ofcom Ban

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Hello OpenWRT developers,

I'm running OpenWRT 24.10.1, r28597-0425664679 on a Linksys EA8300 (IPQ4019). While setting the correct country code (GB) and verifying via iw reg get that the device is using DFS-ETSI, I’ve observed that Wi-Fi channels 149–165 (UNII-3 band) are still available and can be used — e.g., channel 157 was in active use.

:compass: Example Output from iw reg get:

(5725 - 5850 @ 80), (N/A, 23), (N/A), NO-OUTDOOR

:red_exclamation_mark: Concern

The UK regulator Ofcom does not permit any Wi-Fi usage in the 5725–5850 MHz band under Interface Requirement IR 2006, even for indoor use. This spectrum is reserved for fixed links and other licensed services — Wi-Fi operation is not permitted at all.

However, OpenWRT (via wireless-regdb) seems to permit this band indoors due to the absence of a NO-IR flag. This may result in unintentional non-compliance for users in the UK, especially when using channel auto.

:white_check_mark: Suggestion

To align OpenWRT with Ofcom regulations, please consider modifying the GB regulatory entry to:

Mark the 5725–5850 MHz range as NO-IR or DISABLED

Ensure these channels are excluded from automatic channel selection

This would prevent OpenWRT from using channels 149–165 in GB and bring the system into full compliance.

:clipboard: Additional Info

Device: Linksys EA8300

Platform: IPQ4019 (ath10k)

Firmware: OpenWRT 24.10.1 (snapshot)

Reg domain: GB: DFS-ETSI (verified via iw reg get)

Country setting: 'GB' enforced in /etc/config/wireless

Everything else in OpenWRT’s GB reg domain appears compliant — this is the only outstanding discrepancy I've identified.

Thanks for maintaining such an excellent project — happy to help test or verify any updates!

Best
Qixil

2

The arbiter on what goes or does not go is https://wireless.docs.kernel.org/en/latest/en/developers/regulatory/wireless-regdb.html, which currently still declares:

# GB as part of EU/CEPT accepted decisions 2005/513/EC (5GHz RLAN, EN 301 893)
# and 2006/771/EC (amended by 2008/432/EC, Short-Range Devices, EN 300 440)
#  EU decision 2005/513/EC: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:02005D0513-20070213     
#  EU decision 2006/771/EC: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:02008D0432-20080611     
# Harmonized CEPT countries (July 2019): https://www.ecodocdb.dk/download/25c41779-cd6e/Rec7003e.pdf
# GB: https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/136009/Ofcom-Information-Sheet-5-GHz-RLANs.pdf     
# GB: https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0028/84970/ir-2030.pdf
# GB: https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0013/126121/Statement_Implementing-Ofcoms-decision-on-the-57-71GHz-band.pdf
country GB: DFS-ETSI
        (2400 - 2483.5 @ 40), (100 mW)
        (5150 - 5250 @ 80), (200 mW), NO-OUTDOOR, AUTO-BW, wmmrule=ETSI
        (5250 - 5350 @ 80), (100 mW), NO-OUTDOOR, DFS, AUTO-BW, wmmrule=ETSI
        (5470 - 5730 @ 160), (500 mW), DFS, wmmrule=ETSI
        # short range devices (ETSI EN 300 440-1)
        (5725 - 5850 @ 80), (200 mW), NO-OUTDOOR
        (5925 - 6425 @ 160), (250 mW), NO-OUTDOOR, wmmrule=ETSI
        # 60 GHz band channels 1-6
        (57000 - 71000 @ 2160), (40)

If you think there's a problem with that (and are reasonably sure to be right and not to waste the kernel developers' time), please take it up with the developers via the listed mailing lists. Once that's done upstream, you can request a wireless-regdb update for OpenWrt.

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Thats wrong, ETSI allowed those before brexit, please point regdb mail lists to a legal decision restricting it AFTER.

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Ofcom's latest IR2030 regulations permit the use of 5725-5850 MHz.

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