ABS Sets Out Satellite Industry's Arguments For Keeping C-Band

 

Via Satellite: How does the C-Band issue impact Asia Broadcast Satellite? 

Choi: ABS has 28 C-band transponders, which represents over 60 percent of our total capacity. We are deeply concerned about the use of WiMax in the C-band spectrum. ABS, like any other satellite operator in the Indian Ocean and Asia-Pacific region, would be severely impacted if all of the C-band capacity would not be usable for our customers. This is the reason why we are active through our participation in the APSCC, CASBAA and GVF lobbying governments and regulators with other satellite operators to argue against the licensing of WiMax in the C-band downlink spectrum.
 

Via Satellite: If satellite players were to lose C-band spectrum, what would be the consequences for the  industry and for developing countries who are more reliant on satellite to provide various applications?

Choi: This is not a simple matter of the satellite industry versus the wireless industry. The loss of C-band for satellite communications would impact a much bigger set of industries including the GSM [and] cellular operators, telecommunications companies that use satellites for backhaul communications or fiber back-up services and most importantly cable television broadcasters who require reliable means of delivering their signals to cable television systems without being impacted by rain fade. The total cost to the global economy would be in untold billions. It would affect almost everyone in the region where C-band is vital to television broadcasting and mobile communications. These ‘costs’ outweigh any potential gain provided by WiMax operators who, especially for mobile services, do not offer any advantage over WCDMA/3G for mobile voice or data.
 

Via Satellite: What is going to happen over the rest of the year, and is the satellite industry's position stronger now than it has been throughout the last few months?

Choi: Debate with the local regulators is taking place on an on-going basis. We expect that more and more countries and regulators will work to protect C-band capacity for satellite use
 

Via Satellite: What are the key points in the satellite argument? Do you think satellite players should keep the entire C-Band spectrum?

Choi: The uplink frequencies of the C-band can be shared with the WiMax operators. The WiMax industry should focus their [research and development] in the 5-to-7-gigahertz band.
 

Via Satellite: What will be the outcome of this situation?

Choi: We expect most of the regulators in Asia would have opted to keep WiMax out of the 3.4-to-4.2-gigahertz C-band downlink frequencies.
 

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