Satcom C-Band - the fight goes on

Details: Michael Schwartz; Category: Satellite Networks; 15 August 2007; 5286 views

Global
GVF

Less than three months remain before the governments of the world meet at this year's World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC) to decide whether to re-assign C-band for the terrestrial-wireless sector...

The Global VSat Forum (GVF) is continuing to escalate its long-standing campaign to preserve the band. In close co-ordination with sister satellite associations throughout the world, GVF is not only building upon activities at meetings, workshops and conferences, but is also drafting a plan of action for implementation during WRC in Geneva during October and November GVF has summarised its recent lobbying region by region:

Asia-Pacific

The GVF Secretary-General met in Singapore ten days ago with Dr Nongluck Phinainitisart, President of the Asia-Pacific Satellite Communications Council (APSCC). He agreed to appoint representatives to advance the global industry position at last month's Asia-Pacific Telecommunity meeting in Busan Korea. GVF also delivered presentations on the issue in Singapore during the GVF-APSCC Satellite Summit and Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA) Conference at CommunicAsia.

Meanwhile, in the most recent GVF Regulatory Working Group (RWG) conference call, Per Hovstad of Asiasat reported that the recent ITU WP 8F meeting in Japan concluded with a Draft New Report on sharing between IMT and FSS. Its conclusions with respect to BWA are consistent with what the GVF, European Satellite Operators Association (ESOA), Inter-American Telecommunications Commission (CITEL), WiMax Forum and others have already stated. The next step for this report is approval from SG8. So far, the Malaysian, Pakistani, Indian, and Hong Kong administrations are counted among those in favour of preserving satcom in C-band. China reportedly is moving in a similar direction, and Sinosat has been requested to appeal to the local government in this regard;

Africa and the Middle East

A GVF representative was confirmed to deliver the global industry position at South-African Development Community (SADC) and African Telecommunications Union (ATU) meetings this summer in southern Africa and Abuja, respectively. GVF's regional representative will be on site at African Union headquarters in Addis this summer and, potentially, through the remainder of 2007/2008. A follow-up of the position paper at HQ is planned. Nigeria in particular has an open proceeding regarding the licensing of BWA in C-band; member companies with ties in Nigeria-region are urged to build political support for the protection of C-band for satellite services. Reportedly, the Arab region is in favour of preserving C-band for use by the satellite industry.

Americas

Gonzalo de Dios of Intelsat reported during the GVF-RWG call that the InterAmerican Proposal asking that 3400?3600 MHz not be identified as a candidate band has received support from 11 CITEL member states and goes forward to the ITU as a contribution to the WRC. There is now an effort underway to gain support for this proposal among other CITEL administrations and other administrations in the Caribbean. Meanwhile, GVF presentations on the subject have been delivered at seven events during the past few weeks, including a variety of communications conference, spectrum meeting, India legal symposium, and others. Bruce Olcott of Squire, Sanders & Dempsey reports that the recent FCC Report and Order regarding 3650 MHz did not offer any new protection for this band;

Europe

A speaking slot has been confirmed at the membership meeting of WiMax Forum; a report on the outcome is forthcoming. GVF is, in addition, supportive of Satellite Action Plan Regulation Group (SAP-REG) and ESOA activities. The UKregulator OFCOM has also declared that it will not authorise IMT in the band 3.8-4.2 GHz.In a final development, GVF is continuing to co-ordinate with the Satellite Users Interference Reduction Group (SUIRG) in relation to planned WiMax testing. Kenneth Carrigan of the US Defense Department has reported that WiMax equipment is in the process of being purchased in order to complete the testing plan arranged by SUIRG, GVF and Edwards of Newskies.

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