20 octobre 2021 Pierre Perrin-Monlouis
Geneva, November 16th, 2007 – The global satellite industry emerged today from four weeks of successful negotiations to protect the users of its C-band spectrum from terrestrial interference. With its unequivocal “no change” campaign, the satellite industry at WRC-07 has ensured its uninterrupted, interference-free use of C-band for the future. The 2007 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-07) of the UN’s International Telecommunication Union (ITU), is the place where 191 Member States assemble every four years to work out the rules by which countries get to use the precious radio frequency spectrum.
“This outcome represents a strong endorsement by a large number of administrations of the critical nature and value of C-band satellite services as they exist today,” said Rob Bednarek, CEO of SES NEW SKIES, an SES Company. “The certainty and stability provided by today’s outcome allows us to continue our further development of new markets and services, including mobile broadband, by an industry well acquainted with customers real needs.”
Andrew Sukawaty, Chairman and CEO of Inmarsat, stated: “We would like to thank all WRC 2007 delegates for recognizing the importance of the C-band for the satellite industry. Their decision to protect the C-band will enable us to continue offering essential communications to mobile users where terrestrial networks cannot reach, including aeronautical and maritime safety services””.
In addition to ensuring their uninterrupted use of the C-band, WRC-07 also gave satellite operators assurances that any future IMT (International Mobile Telecommunications) networks will provide them with full protection from interference. The endorsement of the satellite industry’s use of this highly valuable spectrum in the band 3.4 – 4.2 GHz will ensure that operators will also have adequate bandwidth to roll out future service – especially in those regions where they are most in demand. These include the developing world, large industrialized countries, and remote regions.
“The results from the conference were very positive for the satellite industry,” Phil Spector, General Counsel of Intelsat, commented. “The satellite industry and our customers worked together in an unprecedented manner to raise the awareness of regulators to how critical satellites are to the global telecommunications infrastructure,” Spector continued.
The WRC has decided against the global identification for IMT, including Wimax, in any part of the satellite C band (3.4-4.2 GHz). In effect, the ITU table of allocations remains unchanged and the limited number of countries in favour of change are identified in an opt-in footnote. With this approach, the world’s regulators participating in the WRC have clearly signaled that these bands are not globally harmonised for IMT. The WRC further restricted IMT, including Wimax, by imposing stringent requirements for the protection of existing and future satellite services in the band, including transborder protection.
Specifically, in Region 2 (the Americas and the Caribbean), there is no identification for IMT, just an upgrade, through a footnote, in 14 countries of the mobile service allocation in 3.4-3.5 GHz. In Region 3, only a very few (8) countries inserted their name to the footnote identifying IMT. Only in Region 1 was there broader support from countries to be included in the footnote identifying IMT for national use.
This outcome therefore shows overwhelming recognition of the need for continued interference-free operation of C-band satellite services that are essential for the provision of national over-the-air and cable television services, emergency and disaster recovery communications, Internet services, and mobile and wireline telephony trunking services.
The WRC-07 saw a well-organized lobbying campaign that included support from governments, international organizations, non-profits, and technology companies. Also on offer was terrestrial spectrum below 1 GHz that results from the transition from analogue to digital television, and here the mobile network operators were awarded the promise to use much of that spectrum in years to come.
About Intelsat
Intelsat is the leading provider of fixed satellite services (FSS)worldwide and is the leading provider of these services to each of the media, network services and government customer sectors, enabling people and businesses everywhere constant access to information and entertainment. Intelsat offers customers a greater business potential by providing them access to unrivaled resources with ease of business and peace of mind. An extensive customer base, including some of the world’s leading media and communications companies, multinational corporations, Internet service providers and government/military organizations, utilizes our services. Real-time, constant communication with people anywhere in the world is closer, by far. www.intelsat.com
About SES
SES (Euronext Paris, Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG) wholly owns three market-leading satellite operators, SES ASTRA in Europe, SES AMERICOM in North America, and SES NEW SKIES, which provide global coverage and connectivity. The Company also holds strategic participations in SES Sirius in Europe, Ciel in Canada and Quetzsat in Mexico. SES provides outstanding satellite communications solutions via a fleet of 37 satellites in 25 orbital positions around the globe. Additional information on SES is available at: www.ses.com
About Inmarsat
Inmarsat plc (LSE: ISAT) is the leading provider of global mobile satellite communications. Since 1979, Inmarsat has been providing reliable voice and high-speed data communications to governments, enterprises and other organisations, with a range of services that can be used on land, at sea or in the air. The company’s services are delivered through a global network of more than 500 distribution partners and service providers operating in 180 countries. For the year ended 31 December 2006, Inmarsat plc had total revenue of US$ 500.1 million. More information can be found at www.inmarsat.com
For further information please contact: Nick Mitsis
Intelsat, Ltd.
Tel: +1 202 944 7044
[email protected]
Chris McLaughlin
Inmarsat plc
Tel: +44 20 7728 1015
[email protected]
Yves Feltes
SES
Tel: +352 710 725 311
[email protected]
