The 53rd meeting of project team 44 (PT44) on Satellite Communications of the Frequency Management working group (WG FM) was held last 15-17 May in Maisons-Alfort, France, chaired by France and attended by 34 participants from a total of 14 administrations and various representatives from industry and the European Communications Office (ECO).
Various issues were discussed at the meeting, of which the following agenda points stand out:
- the ECC draft decision on aircraft earth stations operating in the 12.75-13.25 GHz band;
- the draft revision of ECC/DEC/(15)04 on non-geostationary satellite (NGSO) networks on mobile platforms (ESOMPs) in the Ka band;
• ECC draft report on satellite operations for machine-to-machine/internet of things (M2M-IoT); - ECC draft recommendation on the authorisation to operate earth stations with levels of equivalent isotropic radiated power (EIRP) above those set out in ECC Report 272.
The draft ECC decisions on aircraft earth stations operating in the 12.75-13.25 GHz band were discussed and revised, along with the draft revision of Decision ECC/DEC/(15)04 on NGSO ESOMP in the Ka band, to also include ESOMPs installed in aircraft, and the draft ECC report on satellite operations for M2M/IoT.
The ECC draft decision on aircraft earth stations operating in the 12.75-13.25 GHz band was thus approved and will be submitted to WG FM for approval so it can then be forwarded to the ECC for final approval and publication. The ECC report on satellite operations for M2M/IoT will in turn be submitted to WG FM for final approval and publication.
The other unfinished documents will only be presented to WG FM.
Lastly, agreement was notably reached to propose to WG FM the creation of a new working item concerning protection of Galileo’s E6 band, due to potential interference caused by amateur and satellite amateur service.
The 54th (in-person) meeting of WG FM PT44 should be held this coming 18-20 September in Athens.
