Spectrum threats challenge satellite sector

“We need to protect frequencies under threat,” he said, advising operators to “put your best people on this.”

Anthony Baker, COO of Qatar Satellite, says that the WRC ruling on the issue wasn’t so much a victory for satellite as containing the situation by preventing further IMT allocations in the extended C-band. “Wimax is still using our frequency in some parts of the world,” he said. “And you can still easily buy equipment that works up to 3.8 GHz.”

Baker claims the mobile industry will be pushing to claim more spectrum for itself in the next WRC meeting next year, and while it will mainly be asking for frequencies below the 3-GHz band, the spectrum grab will force some operators planning fixed-wireless access services to seek frequencies above it.

“If the application is a super-Wi-Fi type [fixed wireless] service, then there is a case to be made for higher frequencies, and they will target our band because we’re the next band above 3 GHz,” he said.

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