Satellite firms oppose broader broadband spectrum search

• Published in: Telecommunications Reports Vol. 77; no. 8; p. 38
• Format: Newsletter Trade Publication Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington Aspen Publishers, Inc 15.04.2011
• Subjects: Bandwidths; Broadband; Broadband transmission; Cable television industry; Earth stations; Frequencies; Proposals; Satellite communications services industry; Satellite service providers; Satellites; Spectrum allocation; Television broadcasting industry; United States > US
• ISSN: 0163-9854

'The proposal does not presuppose or offer any conclusion on the need or amount of spectrum to support mobile broadband at this time and will simply enable the relevant study groups to consider this important matter during the International Telecommunication Union Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R) study period," the filing said. "Proposal A is far superior to Proposal B in document 129 for several reasons. Proposal A has the advantage of being consistent with the objective of the NBP to identify 500 MHz of spectrum for broadband. Furthermore, Proposal A would allow a range of mobile broadband technologies (including IMT-2000 and IMT-Advanced) to be deployed in any spectrum identified, enabling operator and consumer choice. In contrast, Proposal B places unwarranted restrictions on the bands to be studied and is not consistent with the NBP. Proposal B excludes from study even certain bands identified in the NBP for consideration for wireless broadband use." "In summary, given that 1) that FSS [fixed-satellite service] and BWA/IMT stations are incompatible in the non-Plan and Plan FSS bands above 3400 MHz, 2) a vast majority of countries strongly opposes the inclusion of additional services in the FSS Plan bands, 3) it is unlikely that BWA/IMT systems can share those frequency segments above 3400 MHz that are not utilized by the FSS with other incumbent services, Intelsat is of the view that the bands between 3400-6000 MHz are simply not suitable for use by BWA/IMT systems," it added. "Accordingly, should additional bandwidth be required by BWA/IMT systems, it should not extend beyond the 3400 MHz band." 'The extensive C-Band infrastructure used to distribute a vast array of information and entertainment programming to consumers could be subject to crippling interference if C-Band receive frequencies (3650 MHz to 4200 MHz) were populated with mobile BWA transmitting devices," the entities said. "Even small levels of interference from mobile transmitting devices into satellite reception facilities could create harmful interference and disrupt programming. Moreover, the ubiquity of C-Band satellite reception points for video content throughout the world makes typical interference avoidance practices such as coordination requirements or exclusion zones around earth station facilities impractical for mitigating interference from mobile transmitters."