[Satellite TODAY Insider 11-08-11] An extraordinary satellite frequency dispute between Eutelsat and Arabsat regarding rights concerning an Iranian satellite that does not exist will now be brought before the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) global conference of telecom authorities in January after the ITU failed to settle the issue on its own, ITU officials announced Nov. 4.

   The argument, which also involves the Gulf state of Qatar, stems from the fictitious Zohreh-2 satellite that Iran claims to have temporarily hosted frequencies that are close to those held by Intelsat and Eutelsat with the operators’ knowledge. Eutelsat and Intelsat, along with the French National Frequency Agency (ANF), firmly deny any sort of arrangement with Iran. Since 2009, the ITU’s Radio Regulations Board has reviewed the dilemma on three separate occasions. Eutelsat and Arabsat were reportedly close to settling the dispute in July, however, the Iranian government continued to assert that the Zohreh-2 satellite actually existed, which made an end result difficult to achieve.

   On Nov. 4, the ITU Radio Regulations Board recommended that the frequencies be divided between the disputing parties. “The Board noted that the analysis provided by the [sub-committee Radio-communication Bureau] casts doubts as to the continuity of service of some of the satellite networks involved, which may lead to the deletion of the corresponding satellite network filings,” the ITU said in the recommendation.

   Iran and France have long been involved in a disagreement regarding the 25.5 degrees East satellite orbital slot. Arabsat claims it designated a portion of its frequencies to fulfill the obligations of Iran’s Zohreh-2 satellite.

   Eutelsat, which is affected because its Eurobird 2 craft orbits at 25.5 degrees East, argues that the Zohreh-2 frequencies were not used for two years and have lapsed. The operator has argued to the ITU that the frequencies should be cancelled, following the traditional ITU-backed policy of forcing satellite operators to bring frequencies into use.