The Satellite Industry Association today applauded Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Tom Wheeler’s call for U.S. Leadership in preparation for the future deployment of the next-generation of innovative wireless broadband services in spectrum bands above 24 GHz, also better known as 5G. SIA is also encouraged by the Chairman’s recognition of the essential importance of creating a spectrum sharing environment that permits both terrestrial and satellite to coexist and thrive in the development of these next-generation wireless services. The leadership and satellite comments were made during a June 20th address by Chairman Wheeler to the National Press Club titled, “The Future of U.S. Leadership in a 5G World”.
“With the Chairman’s emphasis on ensuring that 5G services be open and available to all Americans including those in rural areas, the satellite industry looks forward to playing an integral role in maximizing the future development, deployment and delivery of new and innovative 5G broadband services,” said Tom Stroup, President of SIA. Over the past decade, the satellite industry has delivered reliable and ubiquitous wireless broadband and data technologies to U.S. consumers, enterprise and government customers in both urban and rural America. Applications for consumer broadband, asset tracking, remote monitoring, fleet management, mobile tactical/defense data and in-flight and maritime connectivity all rely on satellite data. Today the satellite industry already serves millions of American broadband customers in the 28 GHz band, has launched high-throughput satellite capabilities and has begun deploying systems in the 37/39 GHz band. Therefore in order to fully maximize global U.S leadership in 5G we will continue to play a key role in the next-generation ecosystem.”
About The Satellite Industry Association
SIA is a U.S.-based trade association providing representation of the leading satellite operators, service providers, manufacturers, launch services providers, and ground equipment suppliers. For more than two decades, SIA has advocated on behalf of the U.S. satellite industry on policy, regulatory, and legislative issues affecting the satellite business. For more information, visit www.sia.org.
SIA Executive Members include: The Boeing Company; The DIRECTV Group; EchoStar Corporation; Intelsat S.A.; Iridium Communications Inc.; Kratos Defense & Security Solutions; Ligado Networks; Lockheed Martin Corporation; Northrop Grumman Corporation; OneWeb; SES Americom, Inc.; Space Exploration Technologies Corp.; SSL; and ViaSat, Inc. SIA Associate Members include: ABS US Corp.; Artel, LLC; COMSAT Inc.: DigitalGlobe Inc.; DRS Technologies, Inc.; Eutelsat America Corp.; Global Eagle Entertainment; Glowlink Communications Technology, Inc.; Hughes; iDirect Government Technologies; Inmarsat, Inc.; Kymeta Corporation; O3b Limited; Panasonic Avionics Corporation; Planet Labs Inc.; TeleCommunication Systems, Inc.; Telesat Canada; TrustComm, Inc.; Ultisat, Inc.; and XTAR, LLC.
