The regulations for the allocation and management of radio spectrum around the world are managed by the ITU-R. (For reference the International Telecommunications Union has two branches, ITU-T for Telecommunications and ITU-R for Radiocommunications.)
The World Administrative Radio Congress (WARC) recommends international spectrum allocation.
Note the use of the word recommends, individual countries can (and do) ignore ITU-T and ITU-R recommendations when it suits them.
(The usual reason is when some national application such as military comms or a locally developed radio system is already using the frequency band).
From memory, the 2.4Ghz frequency band in which 802.11 operates is designated for ISM (industrial, scientific and medical) use. This is traditionally a license free application - but this is entirely down to the individual countries, who may chose to charge, or impose complex licenses.
Getting copies of the official publications, defining radio specturm allocation - the ITU-R Radio Regulations, is expensive. You can order online but they cost 600-750 Swiss Francs (around 300 US dollars).
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The World Administrative Radio Congress (WARC) recommends international spectrum allocation. Note the use of the word recommends, individual countries can (and do) ignore ITU-T and ITU-R recommendations when it suits them. (The usual reason is when some national application such as military comms or a locally developed radio system is already using the frequency band).
From memory, the 2.4Ghz frequency band in which 802.11 operates is designated for ISM (industrial, scientific and medical) use. This is traditionally a license free application - but this is entirely down to the individual countries, who may chose to charge, or impose complex licenses.
Getting copies of the official publications, defining radio specturm allocation - the ITU-R Radio Regulations, is expensive. You can order online but they cost 600-750 Swiss Francs (around 300 US dollars).