Hot Issues - What's new in Satellites

UK Licensing Administration

• Issues include measures to minimise the processing times and improvements in operational efficency, including the development of software tools such as RULES (Radiocommunications Unified Licensing Software).
• Electronic Licensing Application Forms/ eCommerce development.
• Future SECOM /FLATCO / FiLSM Development.

SatClear

A new licence product which allows providers to offer uplink functionality from small satellite dishes (terminals) for services such as the broadcasting of broadband internet. For more information see SatClear.

29.5 – 30 GHz Band (Earth-Space, primary)

• Imminent arrival of exclusive band SIT licence applications, Interface Requirements.

27.5- 29.5 GHz Band (Earth to Space, co-primary)

• The development of sharing criteria for the provision of Broadband services by both Terrestrially based high density Point to Multipoint Services, and also potentially by SITs & SUTS.

17.3 - 17.7 GHz Band. (Earth to Space, co-primary)

• Internal studies on the possible options for future development as management of the spectrum is returned to the Agency.

3.6 - 4.2 GHz Band (Space to Earth, co-primary)

• Co-ordination policy and licensing issues associated with sharing the lower paired 84MHz of the band between earth stations, fixed links and terrestrial point to multipoint point services.

Receive Only protection (Space to Earth)

• Provision of regulations and charges to facilitate the protection of permanent earth stations.

U.K. Committees

At the beginning of February 2000, FTSLU staff welcomed Mr Mike Hailstone as the new Head of Business Unit, and also congratulated Mr Vaughan Asque on his new appointment to head another Agency Section, the Engineering Resources Unit (ERU).  It is expected that the next Satellite Consultative Committtee will be chaired by Mike Hailstone.

There are currently two Ad-Hoc Working Groups working within and reporting to the SCC:

Ad Hoc TES Clearances Group,

• Addressing issues associated with Rapid Site Clearance procedure & FLATCO application form for Satellite News Gathering earth stations which operate in the Ku band in the UK. The Ad Hoc TES group is chaired by Mr Prem Mangat, and takes due account of site clearance issues with other government agencies and international fora. The validity of present UK exclusion Zones is under consideration.

Ad Hoc Spectrum Pricing Group

• Has been studying alternative methods to determine appropriate licence fees for earth stations operators in the UK. FTSLU has already commissioned an external report from consultants Smith NERA , which has illustrated many difficulties associated with the determination of Licensing Fees, The group are continuing its own studies under the chairmanship of Mr Terry Cawthorne.(See FSS Spectrum Pricing).

Interface Requirements & R&TTE Directive

FTSLU is addressing the minimum additional requirements for earth station equipment which may be necessary to regulate the operation of RTTE Directive compliant equipment within the UK so that licensing is consistent with WT Act requirements.

These Regulations will be notified to the Commission, and will take account of UK national requirements, frequency allocations and co-ordination issues.

ITU WRC 2000 preparation- principal FSS issues

• Sharing between NGSO and GSO Systems.
• Modifications to Appendix APS7.

ETSI TCSES

Main FSS issues :-

• Special Task Force Investigations of broadband multimedia requirements.
• Definition of Satellite Interactive Terminals (SITs) and Satellite User Terminals(SUTs) operating in shared and exclusive bands for GSO and NGSO satellites.
• The development of new harmonised standards that take due account of the change of essential requirements for earth station equipment introduced by the RTTE Directive.

ERC /CEPT FM and SE Working Groups

Main FSS issues:

• One Stop Shop Developments.
• Individual Licence Authorisation/ Exemption for VSAT/SITs /SUTs.
• Sharing in the 27.5GHz - 29.5 GHz band.