Satellite Operators Not Likely to Up C-Band Clearing Target Again
Sharper pencils resulted in satellite operators upping the amount of C-band spectrum that could be available for terrestrial use (see 1810220053), they told us, saying it's unlikely they will propose freeing up even more of the 3.7-4.2 GHz. A lawyer with a client involved in C-band said the additional spectrum will get the FCC's attention, and the proposal fits squarely into what the agency was believed to have wanted -- repurposing 200 MHz.
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It's unlikely the operators will want to go beyond 200 MHz in their estimate of what they can free up -- nor that the FCC will push for more than 200 MHz -- because going beyond that starts to question C-band satellite service viability, the lawyer said.
SES said it took a harder look at technical questions, existing services and the future needs of customers, and did calculations about moving earth stations and new satellite capacity. It said the effort came at least partly because the FCC asked for more C-band. It said the amount of spectrum freed up -- up to 180 MHz for terrestrial use and 20 MHz as a guard band -- will depend on market demand. It said it's confident in the estimate.
Intelsat emailed that the 200 MHz plan "reflects what is technically and operationally possible given the reality that we must continue to provide the essential services delivered by C-band users today, while still delivering on an 18-36-month clearing timeline to support 5G." It said clearing spectrum "is quite complex," and complicated because Intelsat and SES can't share competitive fleet information. It said the increased estimate came from detailed conversations with customers about their plans, plus filter testing and demos to determine the proper guard band size.
The commissioners were noncommittal about the proposal Tuesday when they met. “We'll take a look at it and give some hard thought to what they proposed," Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel said. Commissioner Brendan Carr believes the fastest route to get C-band spectrum to market might be through allowing secondary market transactions such as what Intelsat and the others are proposing. He said he doesn't have specific spectrum amounts in mind.
Some 14,580 C-band earth stations have been registered since April 1, according to the International Bureau filing system. Commissioner Mike O'Rielly said the growing number doesn't diminish interest in opening the band to other uses. He said incumbent operations must be taken care of, either through use of another part of the band or through another distribution means. He said the coalition believes it can reconfigure the band to address those issues within existing technology.
SES said it announced the new spectrum estimates before filing it with the FCC largely to prepare customers. It said the increased amount of spectrum potentially available doesn't increase the number of customers that could be affected, as its estimations have involved all the incumbent users. It said every earth station that is registered gives more clarity and helps provide data when time comes to protect existing services.
C-band satellite companies' belief "they can clear thousands of earth stations off 200 megahertz of spectrum in 18 to 36 months confirms that the band is grossly underutilized," emailed Michael Calabrese, director of the Wireless Future Program at New America, part of a rival C-band clearing plan by the Broadband Access Coalition (see 1806150041). “However much can be cleared for mobile carriers, it’s important that the FCC adopt a fixed clearing target, so that broadcast and cable C-band users have certainty.”