Inmarsat 4 F2 Awaits Launch; MSV Files BGAN Petitions
Launch of Inmarsat 4 F2 is imminent -- and with it, Inmarsat’s new mobile satellite broadband services over the Americas, to go commercial in 2006. The craft floats in the Pacific on a launch pad near the equator, with Sea Launch’s official clock ticking down to a Nov. 5 liftoff. But in Washington, competitor Mobile Satellite Ventures has asked the FCC to delay Inmarsat’s eventual service rollout until coordination in the L-band and general national security concerns are addressed.
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Inmarsat functions as a wholesaler, providing satellite service via a network of resellers like Stratos and France Telecom, addressed in MSV’s recent petitions. Both Inmarsat distributors have sought FCC authority to operate BGAN terminals in the U.S. in conjunction with Inmarsat 4F2. MSV recently asked the FCC to remove Stratos and France Telecom applications from streamlined processing and hold them in abeyance pending better international L-band coordination, and national security concerns arising from Inmarsat’s overseas-stationed gateway earth stations are addressed.
The petitions are 2 of many in a competitive history between the L-band operators. An Inmarsat official said the firm will file its response with the FCC.
MSV claims there must first be “a coordination agreement that results in efficient use of the L-band” before BGAN flies in ITU Region 2. Inmarsat, MSV, MSV Canada, and Mexican and Russian systems share the L-band spectrum in N. America based on a 1996 coordination framework, the Mexico City Memorandum of Understanding, but MSV told the FCC Mexico City doesn’t apply to Inmarsat’s new BGAN operations. The Mexico City MoU dealt only with narrowband carriers, MSV said in its petition, saying Inmarsat’s new satellite is a wideband carrier.
MSV said it’s concerned about interference. The L- band operators “have never coordinated an envelope of frequency assignments, including necessary guard band requirements, within which Inmarsat can operate these wide band carriers,” the petition said. MSV asked the International Bureau to grant the applications, if it must, on an unprotected, non-interference basis.
As for national security concerns, MSV said Stratos and France Telecom haven’t filed regulatory clearances with the FCC. Stratos has agreed with the Executive Branch to address national security concerns arising when services operate in conjunction with gateways overseas, MSV said. But MSV said it hasn’t filed that agreement for the record. The same goes for France Telecom, MSV said in its other petition, claiming that France Telecom also hasn’t said whether it has an agreement with the Justice Dept., FBI or Homeland Security Dept. or filed such agreements for the record.
The craft itself is the 2nd of 3 L-band Inmarsat birds designed with the vision of BGAN Internet access and worldwide 3G mobile phone service. Built by EADS Astrium for Pounds 450 million, the Inmarsat 4 series satellites were funded partly by the British National Space Center, which chipped in Pounds 7 million to develop the digital onboard processor -- vital to connecting with small mobile terminals like BGAN-equipped laptops. The first Inmarsat 4 satellite went up in March and the 3rd is in production, EADS said.