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SPECTRUM/REGULATORY ASPECTS OF SATELLITE COMMUNICATION
Linden Petzer South African Council for Space Affairs
South African Space Association Congress October 2012
CONTEXT
PROPAGATION OF RADIO WAVES
Obey the Laws of Physics
• Radio waves do not stop at national borders
• Interference is possible between radio stations of different countries
This risk is particularly high in Space Communications
LEGAL FRAMEWORK
UNITED NATIONS OUTER SPACE TREATY 1967
Outer space free for exploitation and use by all states in conformity with international regulations
States retain jurisdiction and control over objects they have launched into outer space
LEGAL FRAMEWORK (2)
ITU RADIO REGULATIONS
International Treaty • Principles for use of spectrum &
satellite orbits • Allocation of frequency bands
• Regulatory Procedures (notification, co-ordination, recording)
• Modification of Plans
LEGAL FRAMEWORK (3) ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS
ACT (2005) • The Minister of Communications
represents RSA wrt ITU frequency allocation & international co-ordination of spectrum usage
• ICASA is responsible for spectrum management
• ICASA MUST comply with ITU Radio Regulations & Standards
MECHANISMS TO CONTROL INTERFERENCE
ALLOCATION – Frequency separation of stations of different services
REGULATORY PROTECTION – e.g. ITU RR No. 22.1; 22.2
POWER LIMITS
- EIRP - to protect Space services from Terrestrial services
- EPFD - to protect GSO from Non-GSO
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…and CO-ORDINATION
Obligatory NEGOTIATION between Countries to achieve interference free operation
Process and Procedure described in Article 9 ITU Radio Regulations
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METHODS FOR SPECTRUM/ORBIT SHARING
Planning Approach • Equitable Access • Plan for Future Use
Non-Planned Approach • Notification & Co-ordination • Efficient spectrum/orbit usage • First come first served • Actual usage
ADVANCE PUBLICATION & CO-ORDINATION OF SATELLITE NETWORKS
3-stage process 1-2 years
3-6 years
ADVANCE PUBLICATION OF
INFORMATION
CO-ORDINATION
RECORDING
IN ITU MIFR
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ADVANCE PUBLICATION
• Aim is to inform all administrations of any planned satellite network (GSO or Non-GSO) and its general description
• Formal mechanism for making initial assessment of the interference effects of that planned satellite network
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ADVANCE PUBLICATION (2)
• Information to be communicated to the ITU 2- 7 years before the planned date of bringing into use of the network or system
• API phase is obligatory, before co-ordination phase or notification
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CO-ORDINATION OF SATELLITE NETWORKS
Section II, Article 9 ITU RR
“Procedure for effecting co-ordination”
Co-ordination is a regulatory obligation: • for the administration wishing to
assign a frequency to a station; • for any other administration whose
services might be affected
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CO-ORDINATION OF SATELLITE NETWORKS (2)
Section II, Article 9 ITU RR
“Procedure for effecting co-ordination”
Co-ordination is a regulatory obligation:
Before an Administration notifies or brings into use… it shall effect co-ordination with other Administrations
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CO-ORDINATION OF SATELLITE NETWORKS (3)
Article 9 is to be applied for co-ordination of GSO and Non-GSO networks The request for co-ordination shall be sent by the requesting administration to the ITU together with the information listed in ITU RR
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CUBESATS
• There is growing interest in Micro- & Nano-satellites (CubeSats) • ITU is looking at simplified notification and co-ordination procedures for CubeSats • This is on the preliminary agenda for WRC-18
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CUBESATS (2)
• In the interim all CubeSats MUST be notified to ITU by ICASA taking into account the prescribed timelines (Initiate process at least 2 years before launch) • ICASA is responsible for frequency assignment within international frequency allocations
