Intelsat/Intel C-Band Plan Raises Questions, Critiques

The pitch is unclear on how deals between satellite operators and terrestrial interests would work, including what rights are being transferred, said Kalpak Gude, president of Dynamic Spectrum Alliance, which has its own proposal before the FCC for better sharing of the 3.7-4.2 GHz band (see 1710030052). Gude said absent requirements, getting all mobile operators to form a joint proposal in each individual market to satellite operators, either collectively or individually, "is frankly hard to imagine." The proposal raises the question of whether the same spectrum block would be available in different markets, and if not, how do devices get deployed that make that spectrum functional and valuable, he said.

It's not clear the FCC has authority to implement the Intelsat/Intel idea, said a lawyer with satellite and wireless expertise who has a client lobbying for fixed wireless broadband services in the 3.7-4.2 GHz band. Intelsat and other operators in the band don't own the spectrum or have exclusive rights, the lawyer said. The framework is likely to face opposition from satellite and cable interests that have maintained they need access to all 500 MHz of spectrum because of the possibility of a satellite going out and traffic needing to be moved to another transponder or satellite, the lawyer said.

Intelsat could be compensated for being the middleman in a move of its customers to different frequencies or earth stations, but customers with multiple earth stations might opt just to negotiate directly with terrestrial interests themselves, said Michael Calabrese, director of the Wireless Future Program at New America. It's part of the Broadband Access Coalition, pushing for NPRM allowing deployment of point-to-multipoint fixed wireless broadband services in the band (see 1710040016).

SES, which along with Intelsat is the other big user of C-band, said even if it were open to using parts of the band differently, "any plan to change this highly efficient ecosystem" by letting in terrestrial wireless systems raises the risk of "massive disruption" and needs careful analysis. It said "close co-existence in the band is impossible," with C-band-receiving stations being highly vulnerable to terrestrial interference and requiring protection zones of tens to hundreds of kilometers. The Satellite Industry Association, CTIA and the Competitive Carriers Association didn't comment.

The Intelsat/Intel framework is akin to wireless operators using one another's networks, Intelsat said. It said the exact mechanisms still need to be developed, and its proposal doesn't spell out every aspect of the regulatory and business forms of agreement, but C-band satellite operators would clear a portion of spectrum and authorize joint use there. It said the FCC likely would want to have some form of licensing with the terrestrial users of the spectrum, and the company would work with the agency to determine that form.

The NOI that the proposal was aimed at was looking for market-based mechanisms to open up the C-band, and the Intelsat/Intel plan could find favor with a majority of commissioners, a satellite official said. But satellite operators will need to evaluate the global ramifications of use of that band and the traffic carried on it, the official said. Once terrestrial operators can offer service on that band in some metropolitan markets in the U.S., there will be desire to do that worldwide, and every satellite operator will have to evaluate what that means, the official said. Those operators also will have to go through financial analyses about such moves, the official said.