Developing Telecoms has received a letter from the Global VSAT Forum (GVF) asking for help to stop C-Band spectrum being re-allocated to the terrestrial wireless sector.
David Hartshorn, GVF’s Secretary-General, is calling upon the Forum’s membership to avert what he describes as “a global spectrum crisis.” GVF members will no doubt be aware of reports that C-band spectrum is being re-allocated to terrestrial wireless; in David Hartshorn’s opinion “unacceptable levels of interference” will be the result if this development continues.
The satellite industry is now entering the final phase of its campaign to prevent the C-band spectrum from being re-allocated. Indeed, communications companies and governments throughout the world have increasingly been reporting incidents where fixed- and mobile-satellite services (FSS and MSS) are being severely disrupted by interference from terrestrial wireless services in the “extended” and standard C-band frequencies (3.4-4.2 GHz).
The final decision on the matter will be made during the ITU World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC) to be held in Geneva from October 22 to November 16. Meanwhile, major telecom players are lobbying for C-band spectrum to be re-allocated for next-generation “broadband wireless access” and IMT 2000 services to the exclusion of satellite services.
In the GVF’s opinion, if these terrestrial-wireless interests are successful, it would represent “a loss of billions of dollars per year in satellite-industry revenue and a severe blow to the user community that has come to depend upon C-band satellite services.”
GVF, in co-ordination with affiliated organisations throughout the world, is making plans for the final phase of the campaign to counter the threat it has identified and - on a voluntary basis - is asking member-companies to help strengthen the Forum’s efforts on behalf of the industry.David Hartshorn writes: “While we would gratefully accept any level of financial support, we would propose that GVF Members based in UN-designated Developed or Developing Countries provide US$1,000 or US$500, respectively.”
Anyone with an opinion on this matter may wish to share it with other readers of Developing Telecoms. Come to think of it, we would also welcome US$1,000 donations…
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