Satellite earth stations

A Satellite Earth Station is a type of radio equipment used to communicate with a space station (satellite) from the Earth's surface. They are typically used to provide telephony, data, backhaul, broadcast feeder links and two-way business/consume broadband or corporate type communications.

GNSS repeater equipment consists of an external antenna for the reception of the GNSS signal; an amplifier (with a restricted maximum gain), connected via cabling to a second antenna inside a building. This re-radiates the GNSS signals inside a building allowing, within a limited distance of that transmit antenna, the continued operation of GNSS receivers.

Space Spectrum Strategy – interactive data

We have launched this interactive data to provide an insight into the use of space spectrum in the UK. The information and charts are interactive and enable you to filter and download the information.

Mobile Data Strategy and future use of 3.6 GHz to 3.8 GHz

Please note our ongoing work on our mobile data strategy.

Our strategy considers the challenges that rapidly growing demand for mobile data services could raise and what this may imply for Ofcom's work over the coming years. In particular, we identify and prioritise a number of spectrum bands where we are undertaking further work regarding their potential future availability for mobile data use, whilst recognising the many other competing demands for spectrum. Our statement was published in May 2014.

We updated our strategy in June 2016 to take into account new developments such as developments in 5G technology.

Update 2 February 2018

In October 2017 we commenced the statutory process to propose variation of Permanent Earth Station licences and grants of Recognised Spectrum Access for satellite earth stations such that Ofcom would no longer take registered satellite earth stations with a receive component in the 3.6 GHz to 3.8 GHz band into account for frequency management purposes. Our update on the timing of spectrum availability (PDF, 367.6 KB) provides an update on the decisions we have taken as part of that process.

Guidance

Extension of satellite earth station licensing to permit operation with non-geostationary satellites

Due to growing interest in the use of non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) satellite networks we will be extending a number of existing satellite earth station licence products to permit operation with NGSO satellites.

This document sets out the changes Ofcom will make to the following satellite earth station licence products:

Satellite (Earth Station Network);
Satellite (Non-Geostationary Earth Station);
Notice of Variation (NoV) of the Ship Radio licence for Earth Stations on Vessels (ESVs); and
NoVs to the Ship and Aircraft Radio licences for Earth Stations On Moving Platforms (ESOMPs).

The changes will enable consumers and citizens in the UK, and on UK registered ships and aircraft, to benefit from broadband services provided by NGSO satellite networks. These networks are able to offer lower latency services than GSO satellite networks due to their lower orbit.

Read the full document (PDF, 792.0 KB).

Satellite earth stations

Space Spectrum Strategy – interactive data

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