Amateur radio, often called ham radio, is both a hobby and a service in which participants, called "hams", use various types of radio communications equipment to communicate with other radio amateurs for public services, recreation and self-training.[1] The term "amateur" is used to differentiate it from commercial and professional two-way radio services. Amateur radio operation is licensed by an appropriate government entity (for example, by the Federal Communications Commission in the United States[2]) as coordinated through the International Telecommunication Union.[3] An estimated two million people throughout the world are regularly involved with amateur radio.[4]

Amateur radio, often called ham radio, is both a hobby and a service in which participants, called "hams", use various types of radio communications equipment to communicate with other radio amateurs for public services, recreation and self-training.[1] The term "amateur" is used to differentiate it from commercial and professional two-way radio services. Amateur radio operation is licensed by an appropriate government entity (for example, by the Federal Communications Commission in the United States) as coordinated through the International Telecommunication Union.An estimated two million people throughout the world are regularly involved with amateur radio.