The 31st meeting of project team 44 (PT44) on satellite communications of the Frequency Management working group (WG FM) took place last 17-18 June in Mainz, Germany, chaired by France. A total of 22 participants attended, encompassing ten administrations, and industry representatives from Avanti, Inmarsat, Eutelsat, O3b Networks, Telespazio and Thales Alenia Space, along with radio-astronomy and European Communications Office (ECO) delegates.
The gathering specifically focused on the following issues:
- revision of ERC/ECC decisions concerning WG FM PT44;
- analysis of 17.7-19.7 GHz frequency band usage;
- earth stations on mobile platforms operating with non-geostationary satellite systems (NGSO ESOMP);
- radio-astronomy protection in the 1660-1670 MHz frequency band.
Decision ECC/DEC/(05)11 was thus revised, removing appendix A (need for administrations to notify the ECO). Appendix D (list of radio-astronomy websites) was also revised.
The project team examined and debated contributions received in the scope of the aforementioned agenda points and updated several documents based on results of those discussions.
The draft ECC report on NGSO ESOMP was therefore updated. The application of equivalent isotropically radiated power (e.i.r.p.) limits to such stations was discussed at length, based on the liaison statement on that matter from project team SE40 (PTSE40) of the Spectrum Engineering working group (WG SE). This draft report should be completed at the next meeting of WG FM PT44 this September.
Regarding the study on 17.7-19.7 GHZ frequency band usage, the respective ECC draft report was updated, including various aspects from the discussion on use of the fixed service (FS) database consignments as an interference mitigation technique. A liaison statement was therefore drawn up for the technical committee on Electromagnetic Compatibility and Radio Spectrum Matters (TC ERM) of the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), commenting on the document (SRdoc) on cognitive techniques being prepared by the ETSI technical committee on Satellite Earth Stations (TC SES).
Lastly, the chair presented to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) a draft questionnaire on national regulations associated to licences for operating space stations and filings management. This questionnaire will be submitted directly by the head of each administration.
The next meeting (32nd) of WG FM PT44 is scheduled for this coming 3-5 September in Copenhagen.
