1. Chris Hose Geoff McMillen Christopher.hose@acma.gov.au

2. Satellite Basics, Filing
& Coordination
Introduction
We’ll discuss:
Satellite orbits
Satellite services
The satellite network filing and coordination process

3. Orbit Types Satellite Orbits GSO Geostationary Satellite Orbit NGSO
Non Geostationary Satellite Orbit
Satellite orbits are generally divided into two main types:
GSO; and
NGSO.

4. Orbital Types GSO GSO: Geostationary Satellite Orbit
Orbit located at an altitude of approximately km above the equator.
Satellites appear stationary to an Earth bound observer.
The most common orbit used for communications satellites.
At the orbit height of km the orbital period is 23hr 56min - same as 1 day, therefore GSO satellites appear stationary.
This simplifies antenna pointing as tracking requirements are reduced.
A single GSO can cover over a third of the Earths surface.
Therefore 3 GSO satellites can provide near global coverage (restricted at high latitudes).
Due to the considerable distance to the GSO, GSO satellite systems require high power and suffer from time delays (approximately 0.5 s for round trip).
Until recently the power requirements of GSO systems have restricted there use to fixed type systems. Recent advances in satellite technology have enabled the GSO to be used for hand held mobile type applications (THURYA).
Position defined by its orbital (equatorial) longitude.

5. Orbital Types GSO orbit GEO 36,0000km
Pictorial representation of the GSO.
Not to scale.

6. Orbital Types NGSO NGSO: Non-Geostationary Satellite Orbit
NGSO satellites almost always orbit closer to the Earth than GSO satellites.
NGSO’s orbit with varying velocities dependent on the orbit height.
Can be broken down into sub-categories:
LEO: Low Earth Orbit
Due to the lower orbit height of NGSOs multiple satellites are needed to provide global coverage. The lower the orbit the more satellites required (each satellite can see less of the Earth).
E.g. Iridium has 66 + in orbit spares.
NGSOs generally closer therefore reduced power requirements and propagation delays.
LEO ~ 800km orbits (eg. Iridium, Globalstar etc.)
MEO ~ 10,000km orbits (eg. ICO)
HEO ~ Elliptical orbits (eg. Ellipso satellites which come as close as 520 km (perigee) to the Earth and swing out to 7,846 km (apogee).)
MEO: Medium Earth Orbit
HEO: Highly Elliptical Orbit

7. Orbital Types NGSO Orbit Types MEO 10,000km HEO 500 to 30,000 km
LEO 1,000km
HEOs are unique in that there orbits are highly elliptical (egg shaped) rather than the nearly circular orbits usually used by satellites.
HEO orbits allow satellites to ‘linger’ over portions of the Earth for longer (usually the poles ie. Providing high lat. coverage missing in GSO systems)
The perigee and apogee for HEOs can vary.

8. Orbital Types OrbitTypes MEO 10,000km HEO 500 to 30,000 km
LEO 1,000km
HEO
500 to 30,000 km
All orbit types depicted.
GEO 36,0000km

9. Most Satellite Coordination issues involve:
Satellite Services
Most Satellite Coordination issues involve:
FSS -- Fixed-Satellite Service
BSS -- Broadcasting-Satellite Service
MSS -- Mobile-Satellite Service
FSS - a radiocommunication service between earth stations at fixed locations. E.g. INTELSAT type links between nations.
BSS - a radiocommunication service in which the signals transmitted by the satellite are intended for direct reception by the general public. E.g. FOXTEL direct to home (DTH)television.
MSS - a radiocommunication service with mobile earth stations.
An earth station does not necessarily have to be on the surface of the earth, but can be on a ship (maritime) or aircraft (aeronautical) for example. The term earth station refers to the earth side of the link.
The distinction between BSS and FSS is blurring.

10. Other services include:
Satellite Services
Other services include:
ISS - Inter-Satellite Service
RNSS - Radio Navigation Satellite Service
EESS - Earth Exploration-Satellite Service
SOS - Space Operation Service
ISS - Inter-satellite Service
RNSS - Radio Navigation Satellite Service
EESS - Earth Exploration Satellite Service - obtains information on the Earth and its natural phenomena/environment
SOS - Space Operation Service - TT&C Telemetry, Tracking and Control.
RAS - Radio Astronomy Service
RAS - Radio Astronomy Service

11. Network Filing and Coordination
What is coordination?
An international (national) process of negotiation between administrations (operators) that enables mutually acceptable use of the orbital/spectrum resource.
Why do we coordinate?
The orbital/spectrum resource is finite.
Required under international conventions to give all nations equitable access to the orbital/spectrum resource.
How do we coordinate?
Through the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) satellite network filing and coordination process.

12. INTERFERENCE GSO SATELLITES Non-GSO SATELLITES RECEIVING TRANSMITTING
TERRESTRIAL STATION
RECEIVING
EARTH STATION
TRANSMITTING
EARTH STATION

13. Network Filing and Coordination

14. Network Filing and Coordination
Difference between a satellite network and a satellite.
Satellite Network
The regulatory entity (filing) that is filed and coordinated through the ITU.
Satellite
The actual satellite that is launched and operated.
Important to see the distinction between a filing and a satellite.
Filing - the regulatory artefact.
Satellite - the actual physical satellite.

15. Network Filing and Coordination
A single physical satellite can operate under multiple network filings.
For example:
OPTUS C1 satellite to be launched at 156E
AUSSAT C 156E FSS - Optus commercial payload
AUSSAT C 156E GOV - ADF payload
Why have multiple filings on the one satellite?
Separate filings are preferable when multiple operators have payloads on the same satellite. Allows each operator to coordinate independent of the other.
Even when there is just the one operator on the satellite it is common to have multiple filings covering the different frequency bands or services used.
E.g. Optus often had multiple filings on their satellites for Mobile, Fixed service/frequency ranges.
Can simplify coordination.
Allows different operators to coordinate their own payload (as above).

16. Network Filing and Coordination
ITU
International Telecommunication Union BR
Radiocommunication Bureau
Filing/Coordination procedure defined in:
Radio Regulations
Rules of Procedure
Circulars
etc.
ITU - UN body based in Geneva.
BR - Bureau de Radiocommunication (French Acronym) is ITU body responsible for radiocommuications.
The ITU constitution (No 196) acknowledges the need for countries to have equitable access to both the radiofrequency spectrum and the Geostationary orbit.
This is embodied in one objective of the Radio Regulations is:
to facilitate equitable access to and rational use of the natural resources of the radiofrequency spectrum and the geostationary-satellite orbit
The Radio Regulations are reviewed by World Radio Conferences (WRCs) on a regular basis.

17. International Goals Two mechanisms of access to orbit / spectrum:
The aim is to provide (amongst other things) for equitable and efficient access to the spectrum/orbit resource
Two mechanisms of access to orbit / spectrum:
For planned approach could similarly consider Australian planning for 12/14 GHz as providing a planned band for satellite only purposes.
Coordination Approach
Efficient use
First come, first served for actual requirements
Planning Approach
Equitable access
Plan for future use

18. Coordination Procedure “First Come, First Served”
Plan Procedure
Right is acquired through coordination with administrations concerned by actual usage
Efficient spectrum / orbit management
Also referred to as the ‘unplanned bands’
Most widely used procedure for gaining access to the spectrum/orbit resource
Guarantee for equitable access to the spectrum / orbital resources
Spectrum set aside for future use by all countries
Predetermined orbital position & frequency spectrum
Plans exist for both BSS and FSS
Generally less widely implemented than the unplanned bands.
Note: for Australia the Planned bands are effectively exclusively for satellite use and are free of constraints from terrestrial services.

19. Network Filing and Coordination BR Filing Process (Unplanned bands*):
1. Advance Publication Information - API
2. Coordination Request - ‘C Notice’
3. Notification
API - basic information such as frequency range, class of station and nature of service.
C Notice - complete information required for coordination purposes. Includes assigned frequencies, emission designators, powers, beam diagrams etc.
The BR assess the coordination information with regards to the Table of Frequency Allocations and other provisions of the Radio Regulations.
Notification - Similar information to C notice notice, including any changes made during the coordination process.
Once successfully Notified the assignments are entered into the Master International Frequency Register (MIFR).
A different process applies for the Planned Bands.

20. 1. Advance Publication Information - API
Network Filing and Coordination
BR Filing Process
1. Advance Publication Information - API
Statement of intent to launch a space station
Sets a reference starting date for a satellite
No priority in being first to advance publish

21. 2. Coordination Request - ‘C Notice’
Network Filing and Coordination
BR Filing Process
2. Coordination Request - ‘C Notice’
Operational parameters of network for proposed operation
Used by administration to negotiate with other administrations.
Determines precedence in unplanned bands.

22. Network Filing and Coordination
BR Filing Process
3. Notification
Final step
Recording of final operational parameters in the Master Register

23. Network Filing and Coordination
BR Filing Process:
Advance Publication Information
API
Coordination Request
CR or
“C Notice”
Date of Bring Into Use
DBIU
Notification Information
Notification
>6 months
<2 years
>2 years
<7 years
The Radio Regulations requires information to be submitted within certain time limits.
The Coordination process can take considerable time - years. Therefore it is possible that coordination could still be in process when the satellite is first brought into use. The Radio Regulations has provisions that permits this under certain circumstances.
There are other submissions required under the Radio Regulations such as Due Diligence.
Due Diligence requires information on contracts for both the construction of the spacecraft and the launch to be submitted to the BR. This was brought in to reduce the effect of ‘paper satellites’.
A ‘backlog’ in the BR assessing filings has occurred, partly due to the filing of ‘paper satellites’.
Paper satellites are filings that are unlikely to ever launch.