Today, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced that it would review spectrum sharing structures between different types of satellite systems.
The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) is the start of a formal procedure to “enable greater and more intensive use of spectrum,” according to the press release.
The initiative is aimed at changing power restrictions to match current technology. The FCC says decades-old power restrictions are the greatest limitations on modern satellites’ capabilities.
The FCC is specifically exploring updating power restrictions of satellites in the Ku- and Ka-bands, which it characterizes as the “workhorse satellite frequencies.” These bands support low earth orbit (LEO) satellite platforms but are hampered by rules established in the 1990s, the FCC says.
In a statement released in conjunction with the NPRM, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr noted that the antiquated rules “degrade signal quality, reduce coverage, limit capacity and increase the difficulty in sharing spectrum with other satellite systems.”
More people will be on the right side of the digital divide if the rules are changed, Carr said in the statement. In the 1990s, “high-speed satellite broadband was considered the stuff of science fiction and the ability to share between satellite systems was primitive. Fast forward to today, and breakthrough advances enable efficient spectrum use and sharing, making satellite broadband a real competitive option.”
The LEO sector is expected to grow significantly. Earlier this month, ABI Research released research pointing to the vast potential of the segment. “The State of LEO Satellite” report says that the number of satellites in operational orbit will increase from 7,473 in 2023 to about 42,600 by 2032. The firm said that the increase will be driven by increased involvement by China and Europe.
