L-band Spectrum Process 27 May 2010 Tony Azzarelli 1
Summary 1. Background on L-band frequencies (1.5/1.6 GHz) 2. Spectrum Access 3. WRC-12 Agenda Item 1.7 4. Conclusions (No. 5.357A) 2
1. L-Band AMS(R)S Spectrum 1972-1987 (ORB-87) MMSS SAR AMS(R)S 1987-1997 (WRC-97) MMSS LMSS SAR AMS(R)S LMSS 1997 - now down-link up-link 1525 1530 MSS SAR MSS (No. 5.357A) 1544 1545 1555 1559 1626.5 1631.5 1645.5 1646.5 1656.5 1660.5 The MSS L-band spectrum is: 1525-1559 MHz ( ) & 1626.5-1660.5 MHz ( ) Historically different mobile satellite services, i.e. Maritime, Land and Aeronautical. AMS(R)S allocation was identified since 1972 for the safety communication services. At WRC-97 the AMS(R)S allocation was made generic to MSS and a regulatory footnote was introduced to preserve priority to aeronautical safety communications. 3
Advantages of L-band Spectrum 1. Technological reasons - A better link budget with respect to higher frequency solutions; - Allows to use low cost omni-directional antenna & low-power aircraft equipment. 2. Regulatory reasons - Existing global harmonised spectrum allocation (2 x 10MHz) for aviation use, with protection and recognised priority over all other services; - Moving to a different frequency band would require a new regulatory process to be established at a world-wide level. 3. Industry reasons - Heritage in operating AMS(R)S systems in L-band; - Many aircraft have installed L-band antennas; - Moving to a different frequency band would require developing new aircraft equipment (especially the antenna). 4
2. Spectrum Access ITU spectrum access process is generally done on a first-come/first-served basis, but a specific process has been developed for L-band. The Multi-Lateral Meeting (MLM) process started in the 1990 s: - It is Organised by the Administrations representing the L-band satellite systems in operation; - It Sets out the sharing process in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU); - It established the Operators Review Meeting (ORM) where the MSS operators have been delegated to assign frequencies on a yearly basis. 5
Conditions required for the MLM/ORM process The MLM MoU establishes 6 Milestones for the recognition of a new satellite for the provision of frequency assignments at the ORM process. These are: (1) the ITU satellite filing; (2) the satellite manufacturing contract; (3) the satellite launch agreement; (4) the gateway Earth station contract; (5) the launch of the satellite; (6) the start of operations. Operators can: - Attend the ORM as observers after Milestone (1).; - Ask for spectrum assignments only if they have reached at least milestone (4), and are planning to launch (5) and start operations (6) in the following year. 6
L-Band Satellites in the GSO Orbit Region 1/3 MLM only (No. 5.357A) GARUDA (INS) MTSAT (J) ARTEMIS (F) INMARSAT-3 (UK) AUSSAT (Aus) VOLNA (Russia) INMARSAT-4 (UK) EMARSAT (UAE) (Missing Region 2 systems) 7
ITU Satellite Filing Process ITU Satellite Filing Process A purpose-built satellite system for SESAR will require an ITU filing before its deployment. The satellite filing process is made under ITU RR Art. 9 (mobile-link) and Art. 11 (feederlink), i.e.: First a filing of an Advance Publication Information (API); Then within 2 years, a filing for a Coordination Request (CR), which will kick-off the formal frequency coordination process; And lastly a final Notification for the registration of the satellite network onto the ITU Master Register; If notification is not made, within 7 years of the API submission, the filing of the satellite network lapses. The ITU filings will require technical data (see ITU Appendix 4), for example: Orbital locations; Satellite characteristics; Terminal characteristics; Link budgets analysis. 8
3. WRC-12 Agenda Item 1.7 In 2007, WRC-07 accepted Agenda Item 1.7 to the WRC-12, which says: 1.7 to consider the results of ITU-R studies in accordance with Resolution 222 (Rev.WRC-07) in order to ensure long-term spectrum availability and access to spectrum necessary to meet requirements for the aeronautical mobile-satellite (R) service, and to take appropriate action on this subject, while retaining unchanged the generic allocation to the mobilesatellite service in the bands 1 525-1 559 MHz and 1 626.5-1 660.5 MHz. Hence by 2012 the ITU-R needs to: - To estimate the AMS(R)S long-term spectrum requirements; - Provide a method to ensure access to spectrum for AMS(R)S systems. AI 1.7 Work Schedule: o o o o JUL 2010: ITU Working Party 4C will finalise Draft CPM text; SEP 2010: European Administrations will select a common position; FEB 2011: Conference Preparatory Meeting (CPM) will prepare a Report with different regulatory methods to satisfy the AI 1.7; JAN 2012: WRC-12 will take place in Geneva. 9
Conclusions Conclusions 1. L-band spectrum is the best solution for SESAR satellite link: - Existing, Harmonised and Protected spectrum; - Benign radio environment; - High synergy with existing MSS industry. 2. Well known spectrum access process in L-band: - Multi-Lateral Meeting and the Operators Review Meeting 3. ITU WRC-12 AI 1.7 - Estimate long-term spectrum requirements for AMS(R)S ; - Approve regulatory methods to improve spectrum access for AMS(R)S. 10
Iris - Contact Points ESA Iris Regulatory and Spectrum Affairs Tony Azzarelli Tony@azzurra-telecom.com +44 7879 690 167 www.telecom.esa.int/iris 11