SkyBridge
Frequency Allocation Approved At WRC-2000
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The global frequency
allocations and regulatory provisions needed for SkyBridge LP's
operation of its satellite constellation were approved during the
recent International Telecommunication Union World
Radiocommunication Conference (WRC 2000). WRC 2000 adopted the
technical and regulatory parameters which will allow non-geostationary
(NGSO) satellite systems, such as SkyBridge, to operate compatibly
with geostationary (GSO) satellites and terrestrial systems in the
Ku-band spectrum. The Conference also adopted power limits on GSO
systems to protect NGSO systems. WRC1997, had granted access to
these frequency bands to SkyBridge-type systems, on condition that
technical studies be conducted to develop appropriate technical
parameters and rules in order to protect existing geostationary
satellite and terrestrial communications networks from
interference. The WRC-2000 approved the results of those studies
and inserted the new provisions in the ITU Radio Regulations. The
decisions of WRC-2000 are effective immediately.
SkyBridge LP was granted a
license by France in February 2000, to deploy its 80 low earth
orbiting satellite constellation with associated ground segment
and provide broadband access to the Internet and other multimedia
services.
SkyBridge LP is backed by
Alcatel. Additional industrial partners and shareholders are:
Boeing, Loral Space & Communication, Litton and EMS
Technologies of the United States; COM DEV of Canada; Mitsubishi
Electric, Sharp and Toshiba of Japan; THOMSON multimedia, CNES and
SNECMA of France; SRIW of Belgium; Starsem of France and CIS.
The 1997 World
Radiocommunication Conference granted access to the Ku band (10 -
18 GHz) to non-geostationary satellite systems such as SkyBridge
and defined, on a provisional basis, the technical parameters
(power limits) that such systems would have to comply with to give
adequate protection to geostationary systems and terrestrial
services. Technical working groups were set-up by the ITU to
further evaluate the matter in preparations for WRC 2000. The
Conference Preparatory Meeting (November 15 to 26, 1999) followed
intensive technical analysis under the auspices of the ITU, in
order to demonstrate that new satellite systems such as SkyBridge
could be accommodated in the Ku band without causing harmful
interference to existing users.
Technical and regulatory
negotiations in Geneva at the CPM resulted in a general consensus
with the acknowledgement that a solution had been found to
adequately protect existing users, while allowing for the
deployment of new systems which provide broadband capacity. This
solution was presented and approved to WRC 2000.
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