NBN Co disagrees with Turnbull's satellite-based proposal
In a recent development, Australian broadband infrastructure provider NBN Co has defended its satellite launch plans, asserting that the strategy is not unconventional or risky, as suggested by some critics.
According to NBN Co, it is not common practice for a company to purchase a satellite before securing its orbital slot, and this adherence to regulatory expectations is consistent with the guidelines set by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). The ITU, which oversees global use of the radio-frequency spectrum and orbital slots, typically requires operators to have permission for orbital slots before fully committing to satellite manufacturing or launch.
This regulatory step is crucial in avoiding conflicts over scarce orbital resources. Building or buying satellites is a major capital commitment, and while some satellite constellations may gradually build their network, they generally coordinate closely with orbital slot and spectrum allocations prior to or during early manufacturing phases.
For instance, SpaceX’s Starlink satellite constellation, which aims to deploy thousands of satellites, manages its orbital slots and spectrum through regulatory filings before and as it launches satellites incrementally. Similarly, OneWeb has balanced satellite production and launch campaigns following regulatory approvals.
To secure orbital slots, the notifying authority, in this case the Australian Communications and Media Authority, needs to initiate the registration procedure with the ITU and resolve any major compatibility issues with operators of neighbouring satellites.
In its statement, NBN Co provides support for its argument, citing a statement from the ITU that a company can purchase a satellite in advance of it being put into use and the orbital slots being finalised. This statement, according to Bill Hope, a former Optus and Singtel executive and an internationally acknowledged expert consultant to NBNCo, refutes the suggestion that NBN Co is taking high risks by signing contracts to build and launch satellites without securing their orbital parking spots first.
However, it is worth noting that Malcolm Turnbull, a former Australian Prime Minister and a vocal critic of NBN Co's satellite strategy, has not updated his blog or made a public comment on the NBNCo statement as of the current news report.
In summary, purchasing satellites before securing an orbital slot is not standard industry practice according to regulatory frameworks like the ITU's, and companies typically secure orbital assignments in advance or concurrently with satellite production to mitigate risk, comply with regulations, and ensure operational feasibility.
- The ITU's guidelines on satellite operations dictate that operators should secure their orbital slots before fully committing to satellite manufacturing or launch, a practice followed by tech giants like SpaceX and OneWeb in their satellite constellations.
- NBN Co's approach of purchasing a satellite before securing its orbital slot is not unconventional as claimed by some critics, given a statement from the ITU that a company can do so, as supported by Bill Hope, a former Optus and Singtel executive.
