WASHINGTON-The United States failed once again to secure spectrum below 1 GHz for little low-earth-orbit satellites at the World Radio Conference in Geneva, but succeeded in acquiring 100 megahertz worldwide for big LEO feeder links.
The only consolation for little LEOs, which also were denied spectrum at WRC-95, was a resolution to study the potential for global data satellite systems causing interference to terrestrial fixed and mobile wireless licensees. The results of the study will be presented at the next WRC in 1999.
This year’s month-long conference, held under the auspices of the International Telecommunication Union, ended about a week ago. Former Rep. John Bryant (D-Texas) led the U.S. delegation.
Various explanations are offered for yet another dismal outcome on the little LEO spectrum front.
First, despite aggressive lobbying by the U.S. delegation, finding more spectrum below 1 GHz for little LEOs is inherently difficult because lower frequency bands are heavily occupied in the United States and abroad.
Second, some say the little LEO industry itself is partly to blame because of what one official called a “scatter shot” lobbying approach.
Another negative, some say, could be a lack of confidence in little LEO systems as business enterprises even though they require far less capital than the more multifunctional big LEOs.
But because big LEOs promise voice, data, position location and other services, some wonder what the point is of investing in a less versatile global satellite technology.
In contrast, the United States had little trouble garnering additional spectrum for big LEOs in part because American firms don’t face the competitive hostility they once did from Europe and other regions.
“These are no longer seen as purely American systems even though they began in the U.S.,” said Scott Harris, a communications attorney here who used to head the International Bureau at the Federal Communications Commission.
Because foreign firms have invested in global mobile satellite systems developed in the United States, there is less protectionist sentiment, Harris explained.
But as important as little LEO and big LEO spectrum issues are, they were overshadowed by spectrum jostling between new competitors (Motorola Celestri and Alcatel Skybridge) to Teledesic Corp.
A compromise was reached to allow spectrum sharing in the Ku and Ka satellite bands among LEO and geostationary satellite systems.
