HAPS, 5G Bands Likely to Be Chief Focus of Satellite Activity at WRC-19
Identification of bands for future 5G deployment and consideration of regulatory actions for high-altitude platform stations (HAPS) likely will be the two major areas provoking significant satellite industry debate at the 2019 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-19), satellite industry insiders told us. The satellite industry is only in the early stages of readying its stance on the two agenda items and on preparation for WRC-19 overall, they said.
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The two key areas of focus for the satellite industry will be WRC-19 agenda items 1.13 and 1.14, industry officials said. The first is about “identification of frequency bands for the future development of International Mobile Telecommunications … including possible additional allocations to the mobile service on a primary basis." Agenda item 1.14 involves consideration of “appropriate regulatory actions for [HAPS], within existing fixed-service allocations.”
The FCC WRC Advisory Committee approved both agenda items last fall, according to Informal Working Group minutes filed earlier this month in docket 16-185.
Numerous satellite officials are doing preparatory work now, with various participants in working groups working on coordinating positions, said Satellite Industry Association President Tom Stroup. An important goal is making sure the U.S. position is consistent with positions it advocated previously, he said. On whether there will be satellite/wireless industry conflict, Stroup said, “As long as there's an effort to gain access to spectrum currently being used by the satellite industry, there's the possibility of it being contentious.”
Industry focus at WRC-19 will be ensuring satellite access to frequency bands eyed for HAPS and IMT use, said one satellite company official. The V-band isn't widely being used commercially by satellite currently -- with Inmarsat and Eutelsat having small payloads and Boeing having expressed plans for a mega-constellation there (see 1606230050) -- but that use is being developed, the executive said. The official also said it's premature to talk about possible geographic allies to satellite interests, since the formation of the U.S position is still in its early stages and likely won't be finalized until next year.
An area that likely won't be a big battle at WRC-19 is over the 28 GHz band, one satellite official said. The FCC spectrum frontiers order last year opened up that spectrum for 5G (see 1607140052), but WRC-15 saw the band being specifically excluded in 5G feasibility studies.
Satellite interests have met at least once with GSMA to try to avoid the satellite/wireless conflict that marked WRC-15 by having a bigger effort for dialogue in advance, one satellite official said. Both satellite and wireless have growing spectrum needs, but there's a recognition that butting heads doesn’t serve either side, the official said, saying the goal isn't necessarily unanimity as much as less head-to-head conflict. GSMA emailed us it has been having discussions with satellite interests, and talks “between stakeholders happen on an ongoing basis to ensure the most efficient use of spectrum across all bands."