More Mobile Satellite Spectrum, Modified Filing Procedures Sought at WRC-12
BRUSSELS -- European and other countries have narrowed the list of frequencies for possible new mobile satellite service allocations at WRC-12 to six bands, an executive said at a conference preparatory workshop. European countries are also considering proposing changes to ITU satellite network filing and coordination procedures, said Samuel Blondeau, senior space development manager at SES Astra in Luxembourg. European countries will sign off on common proposals next year.
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An ITU-R report found a shortfall of spectrum available in the Earth-to-space direction of between 19 and 90 MHz by 2020 for systems using the International Mobile Telecommunications-2000 standard, Blondeau said. It found a shortfall of 144 to 257 MHz in the space-to-Earth direction, he said. Studies are focusing on bands between 4 and 16 GHz, he said. The WRC-03 only allocated 2 x 7 MHz, he said.
Officials now are focusing on spectrum for both the IMT-2000 satellite component and requirements for high-speed broadband access, Blondeau said, referring to a speed of between 2 and 4 Mbps. Studies have identified the need for two blocks of 300 MHz for high-speed broadband services to complement terrestrial networks, he said. Six potential bands are under consideration in the ITU and the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations, Blondeau said. He listed 5150-5250 MHz for (downlink), 7055-7250 MHz (downlink) -- although Europe is only focusing on 7100-7190 MHz -- 8400-8500 MHz (uplink), 10.5-10.6 GHz (downlink), 13.25-13.4 GHz (downlink), and 15.43-15.63 GHz (uplink). The bands have a lot of constraints because of the need to share with other services, Blondeau said.
European countries are also developing several possible modifications to procedures for advance publication, coordination, notification and recording of satellite networks’ frequency assignments under another agenda item, Blondeau said. He referred to the possibility of maintaining operator rights for a certain time period in cases of launch or orbit failure or for moving another satellite to recover the service. The proposals would affect provisions for certain broadcasting-satellite service networks under appendices 30 and 30A in the Radio Regulations. A regulatory change would harmonize with practices found in other bands, Blondeau said.
Another proposal aims to clarify notification procedures for certain coordination requests, Blondeau said. Some ITU coordination requests for new network filings prompt the Radiocommunication Bureau to identify specific satellite networks or earth stations that need coordination. The European proposal aims to make the list definitive in an effort to simplify coordination, Blondeau said. “At the beginning of the process, you know exactly the name and the position and the administration with which coordination is required,” Blondeau said.
A third proposal aims to clarify the rules in cases of filings under an alternative procedure that’s used when the results of coordination are unfavorable, Blondeau said. The procedure allows the network to commence operation and get registered in the master registry if it operates for 120 days without raising complaints from other operators. The provision was originally designed for exceptional cases, the Radiocommunication Bureau director said in a recent interview, however it is being used for coordination of an increasing number of new networks. Blondeau didn’t provide further details on the European proposal to clarify the rules.