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Controllers (WLC) & Access Points(AP) are designed for use in many countries with varying regulatory requirements. The radios within APs are assigned to a specific regulatory domain at the factory level. Configuring a country code ensures that each radio’s broadcast frequency bands, interfaces, channels and transmit power levels are compliant with country-specific regulations.

Generally you configure one country code per controller, however WLC code 4.1 onwards allows you to configure up to 20 country codes per controller. This enables you to manage APs in various countries from a single controller. For a given AP all radios should be in same regulatory domain. There is an exception for MESH APs where you have to configure single country code on WLC for them to register.

Here is an example of regulatory domain for different type of AP model (controller based). Complete document you can find from here WLAN Compliance StatusCountry Code-01

Here are the guidelines when configuring multiple country code on a controller.

1. When the multiple country feature is being used, all controllers that are going to join the same RF group must be configured with the same set of countries, configured in the same order.
2. When multiple countries are configured and the radio resource management (RRM) and auto-RF feature is enabled, the common channel allowed is derived by performing  union (or superset) of the allowed channels in the countries.
3. The AP can only operate on the channels for the countries that they are designed for.
4. The country list configured on the RF group leader determines what channels the members would operate on. This list is independent of what countries have been configured on the RF group members.

You can configure country codes through GUI or CLI of a controller. You have to disable 802.11a/n, 802.11b/g/n network before configuring country codes. Through GUI, you have to go to “Wireless -> Country” section to do this as shown below (all countries selected not shown under tick boxes).

Country Code-02

Then you can go to individual AP and change the country code where they are in (should be in multiple countries). AP should be set to correct domain at factory level. Since I do not have diffrent regulatory domain AP I have simply configured one of my AP courntry as NZ which is part of same regulatory domain as AU.

Country Code-03

By using CLI you can configure this as follows. “show country” & “show ap summary” CLI commands can be used to verify settings.

(4402-a) >config 802.11a disable network
(4402-a) >config 802.11b disable network
(4402-a) >config country AU,LK,NZ
Changing country code could reset channel & RRM grouping configuration.
If running in RRM One-Time mode, reassign channels after this command.
Check customized APs for valid channel values after this command.
Are you sure you want to continue? (y/n) y

Configured Country............................. Multiple Countries:AU,LK,NZ
      KEY: * = Channel is legal in this country and may be configured manually.
           A = Channel is the Auto-RF default in this country.
           . = Channel is not legal in this country.
           C = Channel has been configured for use by Auto-RF.
           x = Channel is available to be configured for use by Auto-RF.
         (-,-) = (indoor, outdoor) regulatory doamin allowed by this country.
-----------------:+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-
    802.11bg     :                            
    Channels     :                   1 1 1 1 1
                 : 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4
-----------------:+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-
 AU (-A   ,-NA  ): A * * * * A * * * * A . . .
 LK (-E   ,     ): A * * * * A * * * * A * * .
 NZ (-A   ,-NA  ): A * * * * A * * * * A . . .
 Auto-RF         : C x x x x C x x x x C x x .
-----------------:+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-
    802.11a      :                         1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
    Channels     : 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 5 5 6 6 0 0 0 1 1 2 2 2 3 3 4 4 5 5 6 6
                 : 4 6 8 0 2 4 6 8 2 6 0 4 0 4 8 2 6 0 4 8 2 6 0 9 3 7 1 5
-----------------:+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-
 AU (-N   ,-N   ): . A . A . A . A A A A A . . . . . . . . . . . A A A A *
 LK (-E   ,     ): . A . A . A . A A A A A * * * * * * * * * * * . . . . .
 NZ (-N   ,-N   ): . A . A . A . A A A A A . . . . . . . . . . . A A A A *
 Auto-RF         : . C . C . C . C C C C C x x x x x x x x x x x C C C C x
(4402-a) >config 802.11a enable network
(4402-a) >config 802.11b enable network

(4402-a) >config ap disable 1252-c
(4402-a) >config ap country NZ 1252-c 
To change country code: first disable target AP(s) (or disable all networks).
  Changing the country may reset any customized channel assignments.
  Changing the country may reboot disabled target AP(s).
 Are you sure you want to continue? (y/n) y
1252-c              NZ       changed     (New country configured)
(4402-a) >config ap enable 1252-c

(4402-a) >show ap summary 
Number of APs.................................... 2
Global AP User Name.............................. Not Configured
Global AP Dot1x User Name........................ Not Configured
AP Name             Slots  AP Model              Ethernet MAC       Location          Port  Country  Priority
------------------  -----  --------------------  -----------------  ----------------  ----  -------  ------
3502-d               2     AIR-CAP3502I-N-K9     44:d3:ca:af:43:43      3750-A Port4  1        AU       1
1252-c               2     AIR-LAP1252AG-N-K9    c8:4c:75:2c:95:c0      3750-a-PORT3  1        NZ       1

(4402-a) >show country 
Configured Country............................. Multiple Countries:AU,LK,NZ
Configured Country Codes
        AU  - Australia................................. 802.11a Indoor,Outdoor / 802.11b / 802.11g
        LK  - Sri Lanka................................. 802.11a Indoor,Outdoor / 802.11b / 802.11g
        NZ  - New Zealand............................... 802.11a Indoor,Outdoor / 802.11b / 802.11g

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