Satellite spectrum issues Chris Hose Spectrum Engineering Section RadComms /12 December 2006 Australian Communications and Media Authority

Overview Introduction - Why is satellite spectrum so important? ACMA Satellite Spectrum Responsibilities Satellite spectrum in Australia - the present Current Pressures Options and ideas for the future Summary and Conclusion

Why is satellite spectrum important? The forte/focus of satellite services may have changed, but its importance hasn’t – Long distance point to point → area services (mobile, broadcast and navigation) Truncated list: – Direct To Home (DTH) – Very Small Aperture Terminals (VSATs) Private internet access Corporate networks – Program Distribution – Free and Pay TV – Mobile Services (MobileSat, Iridium, Globstar etc) – Satellite News Gathering (SNG) – Defence – Emergency/disaster relief communications – Earth observation – Radionavigation (GPS, Galileo etc)

ACMA Satellite Spectrum Responsibilities International Satellite network filing and coordination Domestic Planning Regulation – Assignment – Licensing

Satellite Spectrum In Australia: The Present Established licensing arrangements: – Space Segment – Ground Segment Satellite Bands: – L Band: MHz & MHz – S Band: MHz & MHz – C Band: MHz & MHz – Ku Band: GHz & MHz

Ground Segment Licensing  Individual apparatus licences to authorise the operation of specific Earth stations  Allows Earth stations to be individually coordinated with other spectrum users  Generally used in ‘shared’ bands  Eg. Parts of S, C and X Bands

Space Segment Licensing  Individual apparatus licences to authorise the operation of space stations  Earth stations communicating with the space station authorised by class licence  No requirement for individual coordination of Earth stations  Generally used in ‘satellite only’ bands eg. parts of Ku Band

L Band Supports ubiquitous operations for RNSS and MSS in a number of bands: – RNSS: MHz & MHz GPS and Galileo etc – MSS: & MHz MobilSat, Iridium and GlobalStar etc Space/Space Receive Licensing Option

S Band Major SOS operations undertaken by/on behalf of NASA and ESA etc – MHz and MHz Generally Earth/Earth Receive Licensing (SOS etc) – Shared with terrestrial services (eg. FS) Limited parts of the band available for Space/Space Receive Licensing Option (MSS)

C Band Receive Bands: – Extended C Band ( MHz) Most of MHz Spectrum Licensed MHz Possible Medium Term WAS – Standard C Band ( MHz) Earth/Earth Receive Licensing – Shared with terrestrial services (eg. FS) – Not suitable for ubiquitous Earth station deployment – Coordination of individual Earth stations required

Ku Band GHz – Earth Receive Licensing – Shared with terrestrial services – Not suitable for ubiquitous Earth station deployment GHz – Space Licensing Option – Satellite only – Suitable for ubiquitous Earth station deployment GHz – Earth Licensing – Shared with Radiolocation, specific sharing criteria – Not suitable for ubiquitous Earth station deployment GHz – Space Receive Licensing Option – Satellite only – Suitable for ubiquitous Earth station deployment

Generic Pressures Increasing demand for spectrum → More/better sharing required Means that spectrum use (in both frequency and geography) should be largely driven on spectrum planning grounds and not due to legacy reasons Gateway Earth stations or SOS facilities can technically do their job away from urban areas Whereas DTH, MS, FS P-MP need to be where the people are ie. urban areas

Generic Pressures There are good reasons why gateway type Earth stations are located near population centres: – Legacy infrastructure availability and investment – Proximity to population centres for access to staff for station maintenance etc – Cost/availability of backhauling information to where it is required or where it comes from Clear need to address incumbent users But do these reasons outweigh the overall spectrum efficiency costs?

Pressures – S Band Major space operation service facilities impacting on urban areas have been an ongoing planning challenge: – 3G Mobile Telephony – MHz BWA Some success in encouraging prudent sitting More needs to be done

Pressures – C Band Historically space and terrestrial services have ‘played well’ together in the band: – FS point-point can be readily coordinated with Earth stations (and vice versa) Trend towards FS Point-Multipoint – Less amenable to sharing MHz under consideration for WAS : – Impact of existing/future Earth stations on WAS in urban areas? What about MHz in the 10 years?

Options and Ideas for the Future Coordination with terrestrial services Siting of Earth stations Incumbent user considerations NGSO v GSO licence fees Bands shared with terrestrial services of particular interest eg: – S Band – C Band

NGSO vs GSO Earth Station Spectral Denial NGSO Earth stations generally have greater spectral denial than GSO Earth stations Potential argument that apparatus licence fees for NGSO Earth stations should reflect their increased spectral denial – Increased fees? – Exemption for ‘good’ siting?

The Future Earth station siting and coordination review Consultation Process – Consultation Paper Outline aims/proposals and seek feedback – Spectrum Planning Report Outline existing arrangements/trends/usage – Draft RALI Coordination and siting procedures Stakeholder Feedback Decision/Implementation

Options and Ideas ‘Carrot and the Stick’ approach – Carrot Favorable protection arrangements for Earth stations sited in spectrally ‘good’ locations Concept already being discussed with Defence for certain of their Earth station sites (parallels to the RQZ concept) Economic incentives (licence fee reductions) – Stick Straight siting restrictions outlined in a RALI Earth station protection levels dependent on location Economic incentives (licence fees increases)

Summary and Conclusion Satellite enabled services are an integral and essential part of the national and international economy Demand for spectrum is increasing Continued pressure on all existing spectrum use, including ‘satellite’ bands Maximising the overall public benefit means using satellite spectrum in smarter ways