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REGULATORY_STATUS.md

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Regulatory status — 5.8 GHz mesh, single source of truth

phi^2 + phi^-2 = 3

Purpose: consolidate everything the project knows about legal ability to run 5.8 GHz over-the-air (OTA) mesh experiments. Previously scattered across three docs; consolidated per W7 finding #6.

Date of this snapshot: 2026-07-05, measured on main @ 13e4692.

Do not treat this document as legal advice. It is a status board for internal go/no-go decisions. Actual OTA experiments require a licensed operator and, in most jurisdictions, written authorization filed with the regulator.

Status table

Jurisdiction 5.8 GHz OTA status for mesh Power ceiling (unlicensed) Path to licensed test Next-step date Source
Thailand (Phuket, primary dev location) CLOSED for mesh use without NBTC license 100 mW EIRP under Wi-Fi-like rules; mesh routing not covered Requires NBTC individual radio license; no application filed n.a. — blocked docs/WAVE_REPORT_2026-07-03.md:145
Singapore Similar to TH — licensed-by-rule 100 mW ceiling for point-to-point 100 mW IMDA test license process (~4-8 weeks) not initiated docs/STRENGTHEN.md P8 BVLOS row
UAE (ADGM / DIFC via Hub71+) OPEN in principle via ADGM / DIFC RegLab sandbox Case-by-case per sandbox admission Hub71+ AI Cohort 20 application (deadline 2026-08-02) is prerequisite step 2026-08-02 (application deadline) README.md:169; docs/LOCAL_FLASH.md:413
USA (FCC, hypothetical) 5.725-5.850 GHz U-NII-3 unlicensed; mesh permitted with 802.11 rules 1 W conducted / 4 W EIRP with cert Would require FCC Part 15 subpart E cert for radio module not on roadmap n.a. — not the target market
EU (CEPT, hypothetical) 5.725-5.875 GHz ISM; mesh permitted with SRD rules 25-500 mW depending on band segment ETSI EN 300 440 / EN 302 502 conformance not on roadmap n.a. — not the target market

What can be done RIGHT NOW (no license, no OTA)

  1. Digital loopback: AD9361 internal TX→RX digital path. Already done, SNR 108.6 dB (radio/README.md:7-14). Note: this is not an over-the-air measurement, see W7 finding #5.

  2. SMA RF loopback with attenuator: TX SMA → attenuator → RX SMA, contained inside the lab. No radiation. Listed as "next (still greenfield)" in radio/README.md:26-29; the physically-next legal experiment. Planned in docs/LOCAL_FLASH.md §9.3.

  3. UDP transport dev (current): mesh routing logic (trios_meshd) runs on loopback UDP without touching the radio front-end. This is what M2 gate v2 tests. Legal everywhere.

What is BLOCKED until further notice

  • Any 5.8 GHz radiated experiment in Thailand. No route to legal until NBTC license or Hub71+ ADGM sandbox admission.
  • Field flight tests with mesh in the air. Requires both spectrum authorization AND drone flight authorization (separate BVLOS process; see docs/STRENGTHEN.md P8 row).
  • Public claims of "5.8 GHz mesh works" based on digital loopback numbers. See W7 finding #5.

Contingency chain

If Hub71+ 2026-08-02 application is not admitted:

  • Fallback A: apply to IMDA (Singapore) sandbox — precedent for DePIN radio experiments exists.
  • Fallback B: partnership with an existing licensed operator (defense contractor, university) — no candidate identified as of 2026-07-05.
  • Fallback C: keep radio arm at digital + SMA loopback, ship remaining stack (T27 codegen, FPGA attestation, token protocol) which do not require spectrum.

Cross-references

phi^2 + phi^-2 = 3