TAMPA, Fla. — International regulators have left the door open to relaxing a cap on satellite transmission power in non-geostationary orbit as soon as 2027, NGSO operators say, whilst their geostationary peers assert any change has been blocked until at the least 4 years later.
A proposal to review Equivalent Power Flux Density (EPFD) limits affecting how strong NGSO signals ought to be to avoid disrupting satellites in geosynchronous orbit (GSO) was one of the divisive issues at WRC-23, a quadrennial event for updating global spectrum rules that wrapped up Dec. 15 in Dubai.
After weeks of intense treaty-level talks that pitted NGSO newcomers searching for greater power and capability against more established GSO players concerned about increased interference, a compromise was reached: Technical EPFD studies can advance without regulatory consequences.
For some, this implies regulatory proposals for updating EPFD limits can’t be put up for debate until the following time the United Nations’ International Telecommunication Union holds a WRC (World Radiocommunication Conference), in 2031.
Nonetheless, SpaceX and the Alliance for Satellite Broadband, a gaggle Amazon created to lobby for updating EPFD rules arrange greater than a decade ago, see things in another way.
“The plenary text uses the term ‘regulatory consequences’ and the outcomes of the studies might be presented to WRC-27,” a spokesperson for the Alliance for Satellite Broadband said via email.
“In other words, there are paths to review and potentially revise epfd limits at WRC-27.”
The spokesperson didn’t detail what these paths might be.
Amazon operates two prototypes for a proposed NGSO broadband constellation of greater than 3,200 satellites that the corporate plans to begin deploying next yr.
There are currently greater than 5,000 broadband satellites in SpaceX’s NGSO Starlink constellation — easily the world’s largest by number.
In a letter seen by that SpaceX said it sent the Federal Communications Commission Dec. 14, the corporate said the approved studies “should end in updated regulations as soon as 2027 that allow next-generation satellite system to extend their power and capability, which can allow them to attach more people all over the world with no consequences for GSO satellite operators.”
David Goldman, SpaceX vice chairman of satellite policy, also called on the FCC “to clarify the intention of WRC-23 that the radio regulations may be updated in 2027” within the letter, “and to correct those that are misrepresenting the record to attempt to delay updates that might be critical to connecting more people as expeditiously as possible.”
Viasat, a GSO operator that earlier warned reviewing satellite transmission power limits risked impeding investments and innovation within the orbit, strongly dismissed the concept regulators have created a path for EPFD regulatory changes to be proposed at WRC-27.
“WRC-23 saw many dozens of countries come together to firmly reject an try and change the foundations that protect GSO services from interference,” a Viasat spokesperson said via email.
“There isn’t a future WRC agenda item on the opportunity of increasing NGSO interference into GSOs for WRC-27 or WRC-31. International consensus also directed that this rejection not be bypassed through procedural means.”
Hazem Moakkit, vice chairman of spectrum strategy at GSO operator Intelsat, which has plans for an NGSO constellation, said there could also be ways to present EPFD changes at WRC-27, “albeit difficult.”