Satellite Industry Fights to Save Extended C-Band
Spectrum in the 3 GHz extended C-band (3400-4200 MHz) should not be identified for terrestrial services at the expense of satellite operations, said groups representing more than 400 service providers. “The C-band is a critical communications tool for economic development and growth both in developing and developed nations as well as for global and trans-continental connectivity,” the eight groups wrote in advance of a June 25-27 preparatory meeting of African nations for the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC). “In many parts of the world, C-band is the only viable satellite band for fixed satellite service (FSS) due to its ability to provide highly reliable service even during adverse atmospheric conditions (e.g. heavy rain environments).”
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About 160 geostationary satellites operate in the C- band, said the letter. It said nearly two out of three commercial satellites being built are expected to operate more than 3,000 transponders in the C-band. When the WRC meets in Geneva this fall one item to be discussed is identification of the 3.4-4.2 GHz band for IMT-2000, also known as advanced wireless.
Advanced wireless often refers to commercial mobile services, but wireless manufacturers are pushing for WiMAX to be considered as an IMT-2000 technology so it can be deployed in the band. Meetings are expected at the same time as the African meetings to make the change allowing for WiMAX to be considered for IMT-2000 uses, said a wireless-equipment manufacturer.
Some countries have already allocated parts of the 3.4- 4.2 GHz band but technology has been slow to develop. That is expected to change with the emergence of WiMAX, said the manufacturer. With a global identification, carriers wishing to deploy WiMAX in the band can count on economies of scale, the manufacturer said.
The debate in the U.S. is more complicated and nuanced since part of the 3.4-3.6 GHz band is used by the Department of Defense and the FCC has already allocated 3650-3700 MHz for terrestrial uses (CD June 8 p2). The current U.S. proposal would allocate 3.6-4.2 GHz, said the manufacturer.
The satellite industry does not believe the U.S. has coalesced around a specific proposal. This “compromise” is unworkable, wrote the satellite groups: “Proposals to protect through grandfathering the existing FSS infrastructure and frequencies would only serve to stymie the growth, flexibility, spectrum efficiency and cost effectiveness of satellite use in the C-band as well a simply strand the significant infrastructure investment in place around the world.”
A way to protect existing sites is to provide a zone around them. The zone, or circle, could be as large as 430 km. But the satellite groups said this will not work, noting tests have shown “C-band receive antennas can experience debilitating interference in the downlink direction from terrestrial technologies when operating in band immediately adjacent.”
The satellite industry lost when the FCC reallocated the 3650 MHz band, but by urging no change in identification for the 3.4-4.2 GHz band, they are hoping to reverse that, said the wireless manufacturer. “We don’t think the U.S. should take a position that is counter to U.S. policy,” said the manufacturer.
The satellite industry is fighting hard against the IMT- 2000 identification because it believes such labeling will lead to pressure to facilitate WiMAX at the expense of satellites. “There is likely to be strong pressure at future WRCs to impose further constraints on FSS operation to facilitate IMT,” wrote the groups, “in a similar way that stringent and debilitating emission limits are being proposed to WRC-07 for satellite serv ices in the 2500-2650 MHz band.”
Heather Forsgren-Weaver