The Importance of Spectrum in ensuring Satellite Communications for Disaster Relief Launch of ITU NETP Guidelines 19 March 2019 Aarti Holla-Maini, Secretary General www.esoa.net @ESOA_SAT 21 operators Global & Regional CEO driven 1 www.esoa.net
Satcoms & Disaster Relief 2 www.esoa.net
Spectrum Decisions Impact Satellite Use Users/providers of satellite communications would like certainty around its use BUT spectrum decisions can & do impact service provision u Growth of data => more spectrum being demanded & licensed for terrestrial use u C-Band (3.6-3.8 GHz) faces the greatest pressure u According to ITU regulations, C-Band allows both the SATELLITE & the FIXED SERVICE (point-to-point) u In some places, C-Band is now being shared with point-to- multipoint/mobile/IMT which has led to interference cases ⇒ C-Band users such as the humanitarian community & relevant govt depts are often unaware of policy decisions that may impact them 3 www.esoa.net
A Closer Look at the C-Band Decisions taken at WRC-19 3.4 GHz 3.6 GHz 3.8 GHz 4.2 GHz Fixed Satellite Service IMT - WRC-15 WRC-15 Before 800 MHz of C-Band spectrum available for satellite After 600 MHz of C-Band spectrum available for satellite Post WRC-19 400 - 600 MHz of C-Band spectrum available for satellite Region 1 Studies for MOBILE Fixed Satellite Service IMT primary for WRC-23 Europe, Africa, ME, CIS Region 2 Fixed Satellite Service IMT IMT studies for WRC-23 Americas Region 3 Fixed Satellite Service IMT * - Footnote Asia 4 www.esoa.net
Examples of Interference UN DOS (Dept of Operational Support) relies on C-Band for critical peacekeeping operations u Only UN organisation to own/operate teleports worth $15m (Brindisi (IT) & Valencia (ES)) u DOS supports all UN humanitarian missions globally u Use C-Band due to RELIABILITY / COVERAGE / links back to EU (global beams rather than spot beams in Ku/Ka band) u Example 1: Post EU-2008 decision on Broadband Wireless Access at 3.6-3.8 GHz - DOS saw interference between Brindisi & Somalia and worked with satellite operator to use >3.8 GHz u Example 2: Iraq, Aug 2019: DOS used satellite at 4.055 GHz but WIMAX at 3.750 GHz caused interference - filters used to avoid it but significant reduction in available satellite spectrum ⇒ Even if ITU rules permit FIXED P2P and SATELLITE use in C-Band ⇒ Once use becomes point-to-multipoint or IMT, causes problems for satellite 5 www.esoa.net
A Look to the Future Use of C-Band is not decreasing u Emergency Situations are increasing & with it, use of C- Band as well u UN Agencies relying on Satellite Services: UN Food and Agriculture Organisation – FAO UN Children’s Fund – UNICEF UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs – UNOCHA UN Relief and Works Agency – UNRWA World Food Program – WFP World Health Organisation – WHO Numerous UN agencies rely on UN Population Fund – UNFPA satellite networks to coordinate UN Development Program – UNDP activities & work, send reports, International Office for Migration – IOM voice communications, & provide UN Department of Operational Support – UN DOS WiFi for staff welfare UN Program on HIV/AIDS – UNAIDS
A Look to the Future Pressure on C-Band is increasing Pressure to identify 3 600-3 800 MHz for IMT in Region 2 (Americas) at WRC-23 WRC-23 could upgrade mobile service to PRIMARY status in Region 1 (Europe / Africa / ME / CIS) creating even more potential for interference with satellite 7 www.esoa.net
WRC 2019 - Why do we care? Concerned about potential risks to core satellite services that UNHCR/other UN bodies/ NGOs rely on for emergency response & day-to-day business u We use several communications technologies across our operations BUT there is no obvious replacement for SATCOMS due to location & coverage as well as resilience in areas affected by man or nature made disasters u UNHCR continues to use today nearly 300Mbps of space segment - primarily C-band & Ku-band. We use L-Band for MSS and Ka-band is used for emergency networks in Syria and Yemen u In spite of our great expectations for this technology, 5G is not a connectivity means that we will be able to rely on in short- or long-term, as it is unlikely to cover many areas u We look forward to using next generation systems as well including NGSO (LEO) constellations which we believe will compare well to terrestrial networks Any disruption to legacy bands would seriously affect our ability to deliver services to populations of concern
UNHCR’s Satellite Connectivity Map USERS ISPs VSAT C VSAT Ku SERVICE USERS TOTAL BANDWIDTH (kbps) u Satellite required on all continents u C & Ku Band for primary connectivity u FSS and MSS (L-Band) u Backhaul for ISPs due to lack of terrestrial coverage
Air Navigation Services Provision in AFI region Four Aeronautical VSAT network operating in C- Band supporting all the Air navigation and meteorological Impossible to land a plane in Africa without C-Band satellite ILS infrastructure not available
Conclusions Learn Lessons & Share Best Practices v Mozambique was eager to embrace fibre & in the future terrestrial 5G v They phased out satellite & were supportive of allocating C-Band spectrum to IMT v At the time of Cyclone Idai they realised how critical satellite was & how unprepared they were LESSON LEARNED: ⇒ Synchronise your NETP with national spectrum planning to ensure continued operation of essential satellite services 11 www.esoa.net
Conclusions What ITU Member States need to know (I) u Satellites provide an irreplaceable service that save lives at times of emergency u Imbalanced policy decisions can impact their availability u Interference / reduced ability to access critical satellite services at times of disaster should be unacceptable for any Member State u Member States do not need to pick winners among technologies: all have a role to play u Spectrum decisions should allow for the development of both 5G & vital satellite services u NETPs & National Spectrum Planning should make clear provision for satellite services knowing there is NO ALTERNATIVE ⇒ Member States should take informed decisions 12 www.esoa.net
Conclusions What ITU Member States need to know (II) The ITU Role u ITU plays a critical role in Disaster Relief and Spectrum Policy (WRCs) u ITU on Emergency Communications post WRC-15: “Recognizing that the immediate availability of pre-identified and pre-coordinated frequencies, and/or spectrum are important for the successful use of radiocommunications in the very early stages of humanitarian assistance intervention for disaster relief will save many lives” Implementing the NETP Guidelines Guidelines should help MSs assess if they have the required capabilities & frameworks in place to cope with disasters. For satellite this includes: ✔ ⇒ Have we got the required satellite equipment, does it work, are staff trained to use it? ⇒ Do regulatory barriers prevent satellite equipment entering the country or being used? ✔ ⇒ Is spectrum available to use the satellite service? ✔ 13 www.esoa.net
Thank you 14 www.esoa.net
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