Belize 2026 National Spectrum Allocation Plan Through PUC

PUC Publishes the 2026 National Spectrum Allocation Plan

The Belize Public Utilities Commission (PUC) released the 2026 National Spectrum Allocation Plan on May 6, 2026, introducing an updated National Frequency Allocation Table (NFAT) that now governs how radio frequency spectrum is assigned across the country. The plan followed a public consultation held between March 21 and April 23, 2026, and marked Belize’s first major NFAT update aligned with the ITU Radio Regulations 2024 and the outcomes of the World Radiocommunication Conference 2023 (WRC-23). The full document is publicly available on the PUC’s official website.

Legal Basis and Publication Timeline

The PUC issued the plan under Section 12 of the Telecommunications Act, Chapter 229 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2020, which grants the Commission authority to prepare and publish spectrum allocation plans covering any part of the radio frequency spectrum. Under Section 12(4) of the Act, the NFAT was required to define permitted spectrum use, reduce interference and congestion, avoid obstacles to new technologies, and support the widest practical range of telecommunications services.

The PUC first proposed the plan on March 31, 2026, opened it for public comment through April 23, 2026, finalized the document by late April, and formally released it on May 6, 2026.

Key Changes in the National Frequency Allocation Table

The updated NFAT restructured frequency bands across mobile, fixed, broadcasting, satellite, and radiolocation services, aligning national allocations with ITU Region 2 (the region within which Belize is situated). Each frequency band now lists the Belize allocation alongside the corresponding ITU Region 2 allocation, making it easy to compare national and international rules side by side. Below is a sample of key bands most relevant to IoT, wireless, and consumer electronics certification work, drawn directly from the published NFAT:

Implications for Wireless and IoT Devices

The plan does not function as a standalone equipment certification rule, and existing type approvals were not automatically invalidated by its release. However, products using Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, Thread, LoRa, RFID, or cellular technologies in the 900 MHz, 2.4 GHz, or 5 GHz bands remain subject to review under the applicable General Authorization Order, separate from the NFAT allocation itself.

Key Takeaways

• The PUC’s 2026 NFAT release brought Belize into closer alignment with ITU Radio Regulations 2024 and WRC-23 outcomes, following the regional pattern seen in Argentina’s RAMATEL overhaul and Colombia’s 5G homologation update this year.
• IMT-tagged bands across the sub-1 GHz through 3.7 GHz range confirm Belize’s continued alignment with global 4G/5G spectrum planning, relevant for cellular-enabled IoT and connected device certification.
• No blanket retesting or recertification requirement was introduced, but a product-by-product RF configuration review remains advisable, particularly for devices originally engineered around FCC or ETSI parameters rather than Belize-specific channel and power settings.
• Further PUC guidance implementing the NFAT, such as updated General Authorization Orders, should be monitored for downstream certification impact.

Source

Belize National Spectrum Allocation Plan – 2026, Belize Public Utilities Commission