ACMA consults on satellite-to-mobile regulation

The Australian Communications and Media Authority has launched a consultation into regulatory and spectrum management issues raised by new satellite direct-to-mobile services.

The consultation follows a “spectrum tune-up” webinar held last week where ACMA and industry stakeholders discussed regulatory arrangements and potential issues associated with satellite direct-to-mobile services and other satellite use of bands without a satellite allocation.

ACMA wants feedback on whether the current spectrum management framework

is fit-for-purpose to manage these new satellite services. This includes spectrum licensed bands and other bands covered by the LIPD class licence.

If the framework is not considered fit-for-purpose, it wants to elicit concerns, the solution and the preferred next steps. ACMA also asks what other commercial, regulatory or public-benefit implications should be taken into account.

The consultation is a response to a series of new announcements, headed by an agreement between Optus and Starlink to offer direct-to-mobile services from next year. Similar services are also envisaged by other providers such as Lynk.

ACMA has previously spoken of the different viewpoints held by proponents of such services and fears from other users of interference in its recent Five Year Spectrum Outlook. In the final FYSO document it said: “In Australia, the spectrum of interest for an IMT satellite direct-to-mobile service is predominantly authorised for use by MNOs under spectrum licenses. While spectrum licensees will need to obtain their own legal and technical advice and form their own views on specific scenarios, our view is that the handsets used in such a system can be operated under the current spectrum licensing framework, subject to the handset complying with all applicable license conditions, without the need for explicit approval from the ACMA.”

It added: “This is due to the combination of the current radiocommunications regulatory framework for space objects and the technology-flexible nature of the spectrum-licensing regime.”

The US Federal Communications Commission is querying a similar application from Starlink and its US partner T-Mobile to offer direct-to-mobile services in that market. It wants more information on interference mitigation plans, particularly its capacity to simultaneously power-down signals if required.

Grahame Lynch, Commsday