NGSO Operators Raise Red Flags on Mangata Petition
Mangata Networks' ask for U.S. market access for its planned 791-satellite non-geostationary orbit constellation (see 2005270010) got opposition from some NGSO operators. O3b's petition to deny Tuesday with the FCC International Bureau said the plans would create harmful interference with…
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O3b's Ka-band NGSO network, and the company didn't justify its request for waiving processing round rules. It said if it doesn't deny Mangata's application, it should condition approval on its protecting O3b's operations. Iridium's petition to deny Mangata's request for use of NGSO mobile satellite service (MSS) feeder-link bands said a waiver would allow use contrary to the FCC's band plan. It said at minimum, the FCC should limit use of NGSO MSS feeder-link bands to MSS feeder links. It said MSS feeder-link access should be conditioned on coordination with Iridium and on using feeder links solely to support MSS-licensed terminals. Kuiper said Mangata's ask for waiver of band-splitting requirements would create uncertainty for other NGSO operators, and Mangata needs to submit more information. Telesat said since Mangata's petition came after the initial Ka-/Ku-band processing round, it should be considered in the subsequent Ku-/Ka-band processing round, and any approval should be conditioned on protecting systems authorized in the initial processing round. It said parties should get an opportunity to comment on Mangata's proposed V-band usage when a new V-band processing round starts. Boeing said it doesn't object to the petition, but the FCC should start a new processing round for NGSO systems that would operate in parts of the V band. The manufacturer said applications like Mangata's alter the established sharing environment among NGSO systems, which was set up by the 2017 V-band processing round. Mangata didn't comment Wednesday.