C-band Frequency Spectrum Safeguarded… A Huge Sat Industry Win!

We’ve been discussing the C-band spectrum use issue for months and months… every one has weighed in on one side, or the other. After four weeks of negotiations, we are delighted to report the satellite industry has been enormously successful with their “no change” campaign, ensuring uninterrupted, interference-free use of C-band for the future. The World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-07) of the United Nation’s International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is where the action took place, directly before the 191 Member States, who gather every four years to map out and establish the rules by which countries will be allowed to use precious radio frequency spectrum.




The WRC has decided against the global identification for IMT ((International
Mobile Telecommunications), including WiMax, in any part of the satellite C band (3.4-4.2 GHz). In effect, the ITU table of allocations remains unchanged and the limited number of countries in favor of change is identified in an opt-in footnote. With this approach, the world’s regulators participating in the WRC have clearly signaled that these bands are not globally harmonized for IMT. The WRC further restricted IMT, including WiMax, by imposing stringent requirements for the protection of existing and future satellite services in the band, including transborder protection.




Specifically, in Region 2 (the Americas and the Caribbean), there is no identification for IMT, just an upgrade, through a footnote, in 14 countries of the mobile service allocation in 3.4-3.5 GHz. In Region 3, only a very few (8) countries inserted their name to the footnote identifying IMT. Only in Region 1 was there broader support from countries to be included in the footnote identifying IMT for national use.




This outcome shows overwhelming recognition of the need for continued interference-free operation of C-band satellite services that are essential for the provision of national over-the-air and cable television services, emergency and disaster recovery communications, Internet services, and mobile and wireline telephony trunking services.



The CEO of SES NEW SKIES (an SES company), Rob Bednarek, appropriately stated, “This outcome represents a strong endorsement by a large number of administrations of the critical nature and value of C-band satellite services as they exist today. The certainty and stability provided by today’s outcome allows us to continue our further development of new markets and services, including mobile broadband, by an industry well acquainted with customers real needs."




Andrew Sukawaty, Chairman and CEO of Inmarsat, stated: "We would like to thank all WRC 2007 delegates for recognizing the importance of the C-band for the satellite industry. Their decision to protect the C-band will enable us to continue offering essential communications to mobile users where terrestrial networks cannot reach, including aeronautical and maritime safety services".




The WRC-07 saw a well-organized lobbying campaign that included support from governments, international organizations, non-profits, and technology companies. Also on offer was terrestrial spectrum below 1 GHz that results from the transition from analogue to digital television, and here the mobile network operators were awarded the promise to use much of that spectrum in years to come.