Mobile VSATs An Overview of Ku-Band Mobile Satellite Services

1
Mobile VSATs An Overview of Ku-BandMobile
Satellite Services

• Presentation to NSMA
• Spectrum Management 2008
• May 21, 2008
• Carlos M. Nalda
• Squire, Sanders Dempsey L.L.P.

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Mobile VSATs

• Earth Stations onboard Vessels (ESVs)
• Vehicle-Mounted Earth Stations (VMESs)
• Aeronautical Mobile-Satellite Service (AMSS)
  Aircraft Earth Stations (AESs)
• Many similarities from a spectrum management
  perspective
• Off-axis e.i.r.p. spectral density, pointing
  accuracy and automatic shut-off requirements
• Coordination with co-frequency users
• Network control functionality
• Regulatory status (co-primary vs. secondary)

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Mobile VSATs

• ESV

VMES/LMSS
AMSS
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Ku-Band ESV Rules

• ESV Order released Jan. 6, 2005 (FCC 04-286, IB
  Docket No. 02-10)
• Rules set forth in 47 CFR 25.222
• Co-primary status in 14.0-14.5 GHz (uplink) and
  11.7-12.2 GHz (downlink) bands unprotected use
  of 10.95-11.2 an 11.45-11.7 GHz (extended Ku-band
  downlink)
• Coordination requirements near NASA TDRSS
  facilities in 14.0-14.2 GHz and RAS facilities in
  14.47-14.5 GHz
• Reconsideration Pending
• Higher power operations, non-conforming antennas
• Pointing error considerations
• Resolution 902 minimum distance (125km vs. 300km)

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VMES Rulemaking

• General Dynamics VMES Petition
• Petition filed May 24, 2006, NPRM May 15, 2007
  (FCC 07-36, IB Docket No. 07-101 )
• Proposes co-primary status in 14.0-14.5 GHz
  (uplink) and 11.7-12.2 GHz (downlink) bands
  unprotected use of 10.95-11.2 an 11.45-11.7 GHz
  (extended Ku-band downlink)
• Coordination requirements near NASA TDRSS
  facilities in 14.0-14.2 GHz and RAS facilities in
  14.47-14.5 GHz
• Comment cycle closed FCC preparing an RO
• Still an opportunity to license LMSS systems on a
  secondary basis (e.g., Raysat Antenna Systems,
  LLC)

6
AMSS Rulemaking

• Petition for rulemaking filed July 21, 2003 by
  Boeing in support of the Connexion system
• NPRM released Feb. 9, 2005 (FCC 05-14, IB Docket
  No. 05-20), comment cycle closed
• Connexion ceased commercial operations December
  31, 2006 Boeing continues to serve U.S.
  government customers
• Proceeding is dormant, but.
• Additional AMSS licenses issued to ARINC and
  ViaSat
• New players Row 44, Panasonic Avionics, etc.

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Mobile VSAT Issues

• Primary technical issue is avoiding interference
  to traditional Ku-band FSS operations
• Requirement to coordinate with other incumbent
  users of the band (TDRSS and RAS, minimal use by
  other services)
• Commercial vs. experimental licensing
• Effect of UTC Petition?
• VMES operations along rail lines and roadways
• ESV operations along the coast and inland
  waterways
• AMSS operations in certain stages of flight

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Mobile VSATs

• Thank you!
• Please feel free to contact me with any
  questions
• Carlos M. Nalda Squire, Sanders Dempsey
  L.L.P. 1201 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Suite 500
  Washington, DC  20004-2401 1.202.626.6659
  cnalda_at_ssd.com