WRC-19

Weather experts call for further dialogue to limit 5G impact on weather forecasting
The international weather community has not given up the fight to protect certain portions of the radio frequency spectrum from 5G interference.

Op-Ed | Time to Work on the WRC Process
It is apparent that one area that can be changed is to remove from the WRC process non-mission critical issues, such as the identification of spectrum, especially when there are other global bodies that can achieve similar purposes.

International weather agencies object to 5G spectrum decision
A decision made at the recent World Radiocommunication Conference could undermine the accuracy of weather forecasts by interfering with meteorological satellite observations, according to the World Meteorological Organization and the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts.

LeoSat, absent investors, shuts down
Mark Rigolle, CEO of LeoSat, told SpaceNews Nov. 13 that the company laid off all 13 employees — himself included — in August after its earlier investors decided not to fund the company any longer.

Megaconstellation milestones high on U.S. WRC-19 priority list
Finding international consensus on deployment milestones for constellations of non-geosynchronous satellites is a top space-related priority for the U.S. delegation attending the 2019 World Radiocommunication Conference, officials said Nov. 1.

WRC-19 begins • Hiber buys green thrusters • Ariane 6 facility inaugurated in Germany
The 2019 World Radiocommunication Conference began this week in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. The satellite industry and the cellular industry are both hoping to gain new spectrum

Traction building to add C-band to next World Radiocommunication Conference agenda
Spectrum regulators around the world want to see more C-band spectrum purposed for 5G cellular services instead of satellite communications, and could make it a topic of a future World Radiocommunication Conference, regulators said Sept. 25.

ILS Proton arrives at Baikonur • Kepler, Kymeta test antenna • GSMA takes aim at satellite spectrum
A Proton rocket for International Launch Services’ (ILS) first and only mission of the year has arrived at the Baikonur Cosmodrome for a Q4 2019 launch.

Satellite operators mull options as pressure for Ka-band uplink spectrum mounts
Satellite operators, including many in Asia, are growing more concerned that regulators will repurpose valuable satellite spectrum for next-generation 5G cellular networks.

Megaconstellation ventures cautious about deployment milestones
Companies planning large constellations of broadband satellites want regulators to be careful not to undercut their business plans by introducing strict deployment milestones for keeping their full spectrum rights.

Satellite industry prepares for WRC-19 on multiple fronts
This fall when the International Telecommunication Union’s next WRC begins, the satellite industry will have its attention divided on multiple fronts ranging from new rules for smallsats to losing satellite airwaves to 5G cellular networks, creating a fear that efforts could be spread too thin to give each topic the attention it needs.

Satellite operators worried about losing Ka-band spectrum
As the next World Radiocommunication Conference looms larger, satellite operators are growing concerned that they have not made sufficient defense of Ka-band frequencies wanted for 5G cellular networks.

Commerce Dept. sends White House 13 space-focused spectrum recommendations
The U.S. Commerce Department on March 26 sent a report to the White House declaring sufficient access to radio frequency spectrum critical for a healthy domestic space industry, but avoided weighing in on contested spectrum issues within the space and telecommunications industries.

GVF appoints former Intelsat, Red Cross exec to succeed Hartshorn
The Global VSAT Forum, an association of satellite communications companies that addresses spectrum, cyber, signal interference and other challenges, announced David Meltzer as its new secretary general.

National Space Council officials to attend WRC-19 spectrum conference
Every three to four years, spectrum regulators convene to set rules on the use of the world’s limited radio frequency resources at an event known as the World Radiocommunication Conference. Next year the United States’ recently formed National Space Council will attend to defend the interest of American satellite companies and influence changes in international space policy.

Op-Ed | Intelsat’s myopia on C-band
The recent proposal made by Intelsat and Intel in response to the FCC request for proposals on how the satellite industry and the mobile networks can coexist took many of us by surprise.

ITU: mobile networks want some C- and Ka-band spectrum for 5G
The mobile network operators that strove with limited success to obtain large chunks of C-band spectrum two years ago in Geneva will try again in 2019 to secure more spectrune future 5G networks.