Licensing Changes in and Around the Falklands

Alan Cheshire, VK6CQ, reports that the government of the Falkland Islands has abruptly cancelled the "lifetime" VP8 calls issued to amateurs operating from the South Shetlands, South Orkneys, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands. No explanation was offered. However, Cheshire says amateurs wishing to operate from those islands must now apply for permission and call signs from the governments of Argentina or Chile, depending on which island group. Those countries have long contested the United Kingdom's claims to sovereignty over these islands. In addition, according to Cheshire, the Falklands government has similarly cancelled the VP8 calls previously issued to visiting hams, reserving those calls only for permanent residents. He says visitors will now be issued only temporary licenses and it is unclear what their call sign structure will be.