Hartshorn: 'A Matter Of Life Or Death'

 

Via Satellite: What would be the ramifications for developing countries if this C-Band capacity was assigned to terrestrial mobile players rather than satellite?

Hartshorn: The sad irony is that next-generation terrestrial wireless is going to need C-band satellite services in much the same way that current mobile terrestrial operators do. GSM and other mobile operators depend on C-band satellite services to establish backhaul links from remote base stations to the public switched network. And this need is particularly acute in nations where there is high rainfall density. Many of the developing countries of the world fit into this category.

So the first ramification would be that the terrestrial-wireless industry’s services would be unable to reach subscribers in remote areas of developing countries. Second, if the satellite industry was prevented from using C-band, they would also be rendered unable to deliver new solutions to those areas. And third, the C-band satellite services that are currently being provided to remote areas of developing countries would be interrupted, and users would be left without a solution.

It should be noted that, in recent years, some of the largest deployments of VSAT services have been for users in developing countries. For example, more than 125,000 university students in Brazil are being educated right now via satellite. The African Virtual University links more than a dozen academic institutions across the continent. Many thousands of primary and secondary students are being educated via satellite throughout Mexico at more than 60,000 locations. And those are just a few of the educational programs being supported by satellite.

At the same time, governments are implementing ambitious communications policies that will require delivery of a broad range of C-band satellite services: Tele-health, rural tele-centers, disaster relief, cyber cafes, post offices, air traffic control, fiber restoration, small and medium enterprises, oil & gas concerns, mining, forestry, banking and other financial services. … The very fabric of society in developing countries is being enabled by these satellite services. 

Via Satellite: How likely is it that satellite players are going to lose some of this C-band capacity?

Hartshorn: The only certainty is uncertainty. However, in preparation for the World Radiocommunication Conference, national administrations are now demonstrating their appreciation for the seriousness of the issue, as well as their commitment to preserving access to C-band satellite services.

In the Americas, for example, there is a growing list of nations that have officially confirmed their support for C-band satellite services. In Asia, national administrations such as India, Pakistan and Malaysia have postponed implementation of spectrum re-allocations that would have adversely impacted on C-band satellite services. The Arab region is also strongly against interruption of C-band satellite services. And in Africa – where NigComSat, the region’s first indigenous C-band satellite program was launched a few weeks ago – policy makers and regulators have elevated this matter on their agenda.

Terrestrial-wireless interests will continue to use their muscle to try to gain access to the spectrum. These are some of the largest telecom companies in the world, some of which have been lobbying governments in developing countries for at least five years. Our organization was fighting against these efforts in Developing Countries as far back as 2001. The fight isn’t finished.

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