Australian satellite
firm grounded by
spectrum dispute
15 April 2014
An Australian
satellite project
aiming to build a
global low cost data
service for
machine-to-machine
communications has
been temporarily
grounded by an
international legal
challenge.
Queensland-based
Sirion Global had
originally pulled
off a major feat
last year when it
successfully filed
for the rights to 30
MHz of S-band
spectrum for the new
service. The
spectrum had been
originally allocated
to failed
medium-earth orbit
satellite venture
ICO Global
Communications.
However, CommsDay
has learned that a
challenge to the
spectrum filing by
the UK and Papua New
Guinea authorities
has been lodged with
the International
Telecommunications
Union. An initial
hearing via the
ITU's Radio
Regulations Board in
late March failed to
decide on the case,
which will now be
heard in July.
The Australian
Communications and
Media Authority is
supporting the
Sirion Global filing
at the board
hearing. Satellite
spectrum goes to
national authorities
rather than
individual
companies, and the
ACMA first
registered Sirion's
filing back in 2004.
CommsDay understands
the objections to
its filing centre
around complex ITU
“bringing in to use”
procedures, with
claims that these
were not followed.
The bringing into
use status was
ratified by ACMA in
February last year.
Sirion obtained the
rights to the 30 MHz
of S-band spectrum
by purchasing
capacity on the ICO
F2 satellite once
owned by failed
medium-earth orbit
satellite venture
ICO Global
Communications. Its
spectrum was
cancelled by the ITU
in early 2012,
paving the way for
Sirion, which was
next in line for its
use.
Sirion Global is a
privately-owned
company headed up by
satellite industry
veteran Keith
Goetsch. As reported
by CommsDay in
September last year,
the company has also
brought on board
high-profile
satellite industry
figure Peter Jackson
as an advisor and
early stage
investor. Jackson is
the former CEO of
Hong
Kong-headquartered
satellite operator
AsiaSat.
The spectrum claimed
by Sirion covers a
1980-2000 MHz uplink
and 2170-2180 MHz
downlink. The
company plans to use
it to develop a
two-way global
non-geostationary
orbit satellite
system utilising
low-cost terminals
that will be
designed to work on
both satellite and
cellular networks.
Goetsch previously
told CommsDay that
he has been working
with a company in
the US on the design
of the terminals and
was ready to begin
work on satellite
system design. The
company plans to
focus on the market
for the remote
tracking,
monitoring, and
controlling of fixed
and mobile assets
located in areas
underserved by
traditional
satellite and
terrestrial
networks. Sectors
targetted include
transportation,
communications,
energy/utilities,
livestock/food
supply and
production,
environment, natural
resources, military,
infrastructure, and
emergency service
sectors.
Goetsch was also one
of the founders of
KaComm
Communications, an
Australian satellite
venture with
financial backing
from satellite
manufacturer Loral.
The company's plans
for Ka-band
broadband satellite
services to remote
and regional
Australia were left
stranded when NBN Co
decided to launch
its own Ka-band
satellites as part
of the national
broadband network.
Development of the
Sirion Global
project is also now
on hold until the
ITU decides on the
spectrum allocation.
