Under Article 27 (1) of the VCDR, the installation and use of wireless transmitters by diplomatic missions and career consular posts requires the consent of the receiving State. Consent for their use is granted, on the basis of reciprocity, by the Bundesnetzagentur (Federal Network Agency for Electricity, Gas, Telecommunications, Post and Railway). The application must be submitted to the Bundesnetzagentur (Federal Network Agency) or by Note Verbale to the Federal Foreign Office, Division 701.

The same procedure applies to the use of short-wave radio transmitters.

Other radio links

Radio equipment accessing the public land mobile networks (PLMN)

The diplomatic missions and career consular posts may use radio equipment that accesses the public land mobile networks. There are no frequencies for independent use. Equipment may be used on the basis of the general frequency allocation. Further details should be obtained from telecommunication service providers.

Radio equipment accessing the non-public mobile radiocommunication service

Frequencies for the use of radios accessing the non-public mobile radiocommunication service (e.g. walkie-talkies, personal paging systems) are allocated upon application by the local offices of the Bundesnetzagentur.

Other radio transmitting equipment

Transmitters for data transfer, automatic door openers (motion detectors) and wireless telephone apparatus (cordless telephones) may under certain conditions be used on the basis of general frequency allocations or individual frequency allocations. In view of the complexity of this issue, diplomatic missions and career consular posts should contact the local offices of the Bundesnetzagentur directly for clarification and further details.