These documents propose to: make more spectrum available for satellite and fixed link use (specifically in the 27.5-30 GHz band); make more spectrum available for satellite gateway earth stations (in the Q, V, E bands); and grant an earth station licence to Kepler.
Ofcom’s decision and further proposals on the 27.5-30 GHz (‘28 GHz’) band propose:
- making 560 MHz more spectrum available for use by earth station gateways, which are large dishes on the ground that connect a satellite network to the internet;
- introducing a new mechanism to enable satellite gateway access to the whole band, subject to consultation processes to avoid material impacts on incumbent Spectrum Access licensees;
- enabling some additional spectrum access for satellite land terminals – the dishes and antennas used by customers to connect to a satellite network – and fixed links; and
- seeking views on demand for unused 28 GHz spectrum blocks in London and Northern Ireland.
Ofcom is inviting feedback on those 28 GHz proposals by 31 May 2024, and plans to publish its decision later this year.
The regulator is also inviting input on the possibility of making spectrum in the Q and V bands (37.5-43.5 GHz, 47.2-50.2 GHz and 50.4-52.4 GHz), and E band (71-76 GHz and 81-86 GHz) available for satellite gateway earth stations.
This is something which satellite operators who responded to Ofcom’s 2022 Space Spectrum Strategy consultation said will be important to enable future services. Ofcom is seeking views by 14 June 2024 and plans to set out the next steps later this year.
It is also proposing to grant an earth station network licence to Kepler for its constellation of non-geostationary orbiting (NGSO) satellites.
Kepler already has 15 satellites in orbit and plans to launch a total of 140 satellites. It says it will use its network to support a host of applications, from store and forward-based IoT services to real-time data transfer services when the network reaches full deployment.
Ofcom is inviting comments on Kepler’s application, and on its proposal to grant the licence, by 29 April 2024.