Via Satellite - February 2008

the No Change campaign that led to the satellite industry’s win.

WiMax and international mobile telecommunications (IMT) players had been seeking access to part of the spectrum, traditionally the domain of satellite players, but the No Change campaign gained momentum throughout 2007, driven by both national policy imperatives and the satellite industry. Not only did the WRC-07 decision reject those requests, it also ensures that future IM T networks will not interfere with satellite’s use of C-band.

“This outcome shows overwhelming recognition of the need for continued interference-free operation of C-band satellite services that are essential for the provision of national over-the-air and cable television services, emergency and disaster recovery communications, Internet services, and mobile and wireline telephony trunking services,” says Lothian. “… We insisted on very strong protection for existing and future satellite operations. Under the regulations, Earth stations are protected in the country as well as in the neighboring countries.”

While the terrestrial interests seeking more access to C-band spectrum generally were regarded as well organized and better funded than the satellite industry, the No Change team organized efforts to inform delegates of the potential harmful impact that terrestrial services would have on satellite-provided services and rallied satellite advocates from many parts of the world. The ability to fully explain concerns such as the documented impact that IMT-created interference would have on satellite services, the importance of C-band satellite services in areas that experience rain fade and the importance that satellite C-band communications play in regions affected by natural disasters were key in convincing delegates not to change the C-band allocation.

The No Change team, which also benefited from the efforts of regional operators network integrators and

industry lobbying groups, rallied their constituencies, and as the four week conference got underway, the number of countries lobbying for an IMT identification in the band began to shrink. A number of countries which originally submitted documents in favor of identifying the C-band for IMT changed

their positions due to the satellite industry’s efforts.

The intensive, long-term effort of the No Change team preserved the valuable bandwidth for satellite players and also laid out the groundwork for industry leaders to follow in similar situations on the future.