SATELLITE COORDINATION

MEETINGS

• In order to gain the right to use any radio frequency to provide satellite communication services, administrations are required by the Radio Regulations, which is the international treaty text governing the use of the finite radio frequency resource, to comply with technical and regulatory requirements and procedures laid out in these texts.

• One of the important regulatory requirement and a very effective mechanism in managing harmful interference between space radiocommunication services is to carry out coordination of the radio frequency assignments with other administrations before using them.

• The regulatory text for this coordination requirement is contained in the Radio Regulations – Article 9 for non-planned services – AP30, AP30A and AP30B for the modified uses in

the planned services

• It is the initiative of the administration wishing

to implement a new satellite network to start the coordination procedure

• Coordination enables parties interested in providing satellite services to exchange information, analyze interference scenario and work out solutions that will allow their existing and planned satellite networks to operate without causing harmful interference to one another.

• Coordination between two parties – bilateral agreements

• Coordination between more than two parties

– Multilateral agreements – e.g. multilateral L-band GSO MSS Intersystem

Coordination Meeting – e.g.Consultation Meeting (RES 609) RNSS->ARNS

• Coordination is not a one off process

• It does not end – when the incoming satellite has completed

coordination with all the affected administrations , or

– when the frequency assignments are recorded into the MIFR

• Coordination is a continuing or on going effort

• It should continue as long as the use of the radio frequency is required for the satellite service

• Coordination is essential in maintaining the quality and reliability of the satellite service

• Therefore, coordination work and resources incurs a recurring cost which can be considered as part of satellite operational cost

• Coordination outcomes can affect viability of projects, business decisions and marketing plans

Satellite Growth Evolution

• Deregulation and privatization in telecommunications in the 90s and access to commercial and private funding

• Lower satellite and launch costs • Heavy launch vehicles and bigger satellites

• higher powered satellites -> more varied applications • higher frequency bands can serve more regions,

including those in heavy rain region • bigger satellites - lower cost per transponder

• Satellite inherent wide coverage advantage – entrenched DTH subscriber base

Current Growth Drivers • DTH demand from emerging markets • Broadband developments • HDTV take up and distribution • Demand for more content from consumers • Decreasing costs and technology improvement

– Satellites – Launchers – Ground equipments

• Commercialization of other space services such as earth observation, radionavigation, etc.

Most Popular Orbit

• The geostationary orbit is the most popular orbit for satellite use because of the satellite’s apparent stationary position in the sky viewed from users on the ground.

• No requirement on the ground to constantly track the satellite, thus lessen the complexity and the cost of earth stations.

• A large area covering a third of the earth’s service can be visible from any geostationary orbital position, an inherent advantage especially for broadcasting type services

Most Popular Bands

• Congestion especially in the geostationary orbital arc and in the L, C and Ku-bands

• Congestion leads to more difficult interference

scenario as compared to less congested bands like Ka-band

Results of Congestion

• Intense competition for scarce resource • Uncertain outcome from coordination • Protectionism - less willingness to

accommodate new entrants • More disputes • More constraints and less flexibility

Undesired Outcomes Of Not Coordinating

• Quality and reliability issues • Loss of customer confidence • Difficulty in selling product and services • Discounted prices • Possible lost of financial backing • Possible hostile response by other affected

operators

Possible Opportunities • WRC-15 Agenda Item 1.6.1

– FSS - 250 MHZ (uplink and downlink) in the range between 10 GHz and 17 GHz in Region1

• WRC-15 Agenda Item 1.6.2 – FSS - 250 MHz (uplink) in Region 2 and 300 MHz (uplink) in

R3 between 13-17 GHz

Possible Opportunities • WRC-15 Agenda Item 1.9.1

– FSS - 100 MHz (Uplink and downlink) in the 7 and 8 GHz

• WRC-15 Agenda Item 1.9.2 – Maritime MSS - 375 MHz in the 7 and 8 GHz

• WRC-15 Agenda Item 1.10 – MSS in the 22-26 GHz

Possible Opportunities

• WRC-15 Agenda Item 1.11 – EESS in the 7-8 GHz

• WRC-15 Agenda Item 1.12

– EESS(active) up to 600 MHz within the 8.7-10.5 GHz

• Coordination is generally carried out through a series of meetings between two or more interested parties who are providing satellite services

• Depending on the degree of complexity of the interference situation, some coordination can be carried out through exchange of correspondences

Coordination Meeting

Parties Involved

• Parties involved in these meetings are basically – notifying administrations

• sponsors of the satellite filings • responsible for implementing international treaties

such as the Radio Regulations.

– the satellite operators

• responsible for the operation and welfare of the satellite

Coordination Meeting

• Occasion for updated information exchange

– Update of orbital location and frequency usage • Paper, current, anticipated, future use

– Utilization priorities- geographical area, frequency bands, orbital slots, commercialization plans

– Implementation timeframe – Types of applications – DTH, point to points, trunking,

VSATs, – Usage - Military, national/public, private, commercial. – Operational vs published characteristics

COORDINATION MEETING

• Planning the meeting – Organization of the meeting – logistics, venue,

facilities, transportation, protocols

– Proposed agenda • To be exchanged and agreed before the meeting • List of satellite networks and their respective

publications in which coordination is to be considered in the meeting

• Agenda will be used as guide for preparation of interference analysis

• Inclusion of outstanding issues from previous meetings

COORDINATION MEETING

Preparing for the meeting (1) – Update the agreed list of networks and their publication

references as per agreed agenda – Carry out interference calculations – Summary of interference calculation results

• Worst case • Operational • Both directions – causing interference and being interfered

– Analysis of the results • Identification of critical coordination pairs • Identification of problematic cases

– Ensure up to date ITU databases, publications and reference material readily available for referral

COORDINATION MEETING

Preparing for the meeting(2)

– Strategize • Baseline approach • Dealing with easiest to most difficult case

approach • Package deals - exchange

– Mitigation proposals • mutual accommodation

COORDINATION MEETING

• Preparing for the meeting(3)

• Other considerations – Status of the service allocations – Realistic C/N and protection criteria – BR findings – Conformance with the appropriate ITU-R

recommendation, Radio Regulations – If different characteristics are used from those

published, check if there are within envelope of published characteristics

COORDINATION MEETING

• During the meeting

• Agreement – Information to be used e.g. published, operational, etc. – Assumptions – Calculation Method – Criteria – Operating or Desired C/Ns – References to use – Radio Regulations and ITU

Recommendations are often used as the main reference, others include manufaturer’s data, etc.

Typical Summary Record Outline • Introduction

– Formalities, framework, general agreements for the discussion, etc.

• Body – mitigation proposals and solutions, coordination

agreements, outstanding issues

• Conclusion – next meeting, summary of outstanding issues

• Annexes – Result of calculations – Participants – List of satellite networks and publication, etc.

COORDINATION MEETING

• Be realistic in making decisions – Mitigation solutions feasible or not feasible

• Propose and accept realistic proposals

• Keep in mind outcome of coordination can have – viability impact on a business – cost implications

• spacecraft design • launch costs • cost outlay for earth stations

Technical Mitigation Methods

• EIRP or PFD limitations • Limitations on number of carriers • Service area limitation • Improve antenna sidelobe performance

– Shaped beams in satellites – Better performing earth station antenna

• Analog to digital • Modify codings • Polarization • Adoption of new technologies

Procedural Type Mitigation Method

• Establishment of point of contacts

• Mitigations procedure to follow in case of interference

• Timing

• Transponder planning

• Joint ventures

• Business collaborations

Joint Exploitation Solution

Constraints • Cost

• Feasibility

• Types of services

• Existing users consideration

Constraints • Flexibility

• Quality of Service

• Type of Applications (DTH, VSAT, TV Headend,etc )

• Design considerations

• Etc.