Regulatory Satellite Issues C-Band Invasion
C-Band Invasion
C-band frequencies (3.4-4.2 GHz) are vital to operations of satellite services, particularly intropical and subtropical regions, where other frequencies are bedevilled by "rain fade".
Societies in the Asia-Pacific rely on C-band communications to support business communications, telemedicine, distance education, disaster recovery - and of course getting broadcast content to the region's 255 million pay-TV homes.
But other groups have their eye on the C-band frequencies. Several Administrations have already assigned portions of that band for wireless broadband systems - with disastrous results. Now the ITU is being asked to open the C-band for use by future 4-G (IMT) telephone systems.
CASBAA and its members are fighting back against this invasion. Click on the documents below to get educated, and if you are a pay-TV operator, ask your engineering people if you don't rely on the C-band to get the programming you and your customers need. then contact your national telecoms regulator, and let them know that C-band is vital for your business and your links with the rest of the world.
Fight the Invasion!
Individual Market Summaries | Publications | Presentations | Papers | Press Articles
| Individual Market Summaries | Last Updated |
| India | Apr 16, 2013 |
| Bangladesh | Mar 24, 2012 |
| Vietnam | Mar 3, 2012 |
| Thailand | Mar 3, 2012 |
| Taiwan | Mar 3, 2012 |
| Singapore | Mar 2, 2012 |
| Philippines | Mar 2, 2012 |
| Pakistan | Mar 2, 2012 |
| Malaysia | Dec 21, 2011 |
| New Zealand | Dec 21, 2011 |
| Japan | Dec 20, 2011 |
| Korea | Dec 20, 2011 |
| Indonesia | Nov 14, 2011 |
| China | Nov 12, 2011 |
| Afghanistan | Oct 20, 2011 |
| Australia | May 8, 2011 |
| Fiji | Sept 15, 2009 |
| Iran | Feb 19, 2009 |
For more detail on ITU Frequency Allocations for C-band, click here
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Challenge to Satellite Frequencies Continues
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CASBAA Spectrum Consultant Jorn Christensen writes that the challenge to satellite industry use of the C-band radio spectrum will continue, through the next three years of ITU consideration of how to find new frequencies for mobile broadband systems. The issue will be on center stage at WRC 2015, as it was in the WRC in 2007. This paper presents an item-by-item survey of the WRC agenda points that will challenge satellite frequencies, and proposes defensive actions by satellite and broadcasting interests, beginning now. Download here . |
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CASBAA published an update report entitled "What's Up with WiMax?" for member companies on the prospects for actual and potential interference between broadband wireless systems and Asian satellite transmission systems in the C-band. The report notes that spectrum pressures for broadband will be highest in large countries with underserved rural areas, including Australia, China and India. Download the update paper here. |
In Search of coexistence: WiMAX and Satellite Services in Asia
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CASBAA released "In search of coexistence: WiMAX and Satellite Services in Asia" in 2009 June reviewing some of the latest developments in the deployment of BWA in the 3.5 GHz band and explores ways in which a government can provide BWA without allocating spectrum in the 3.5 GHz band. |
Transmission Troubles - A threat to Satellite TV Services in Asia
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CASBAA released a new report highlighting the threat to television services posed by the deployment of Broadband Wireless Access services (such as WiMax) in the radio frequency band used for the wholesale distribution of satellite television signals in Asia. The "Transmission Troubles" report provides the first region-wide survey of "real world" experiences of licensing conflicts over wireless spectrum normally used by satellite operators. |
| Presentations | |
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Given at the annual Convention of the Philippine Cable Television Association Download presentation in Manila on March 21, 2013. |
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Given by representatives of CASBAA and Asiasat at the IEEE Globecom 2012 Conference, in Anaheim CA, USA. Download presentation Source: CASBAA, December 6, 2012 |
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Given at a Dhaka seminar hosted by the satellite industry and the Cable Operators Association of Bangladesh by Gregg Daffner, Chairman of CASBAA’s Wireless Action Group (WAG). Download presentation Source: CASBAA, May 30, 2012 |
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Given at a workshop of the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) in Kuala Lumpur on July 27, 2009: "ABU PREPARATORY SEMINAR ON WRC-11" Download presentation |
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Given by Jorn Christensen, President, J Christensen Consultants during CASBAA India Satellite Industry Forum 2009. Download presentation |
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Satellite Breakfast Special: Much more than a backbone Given by Bob Zitter, EVP & CTO, HBO during CASBAA Convention 2008. Please click here for Interference Demo or Presentation Script. Source: CASBAA, 29 October, 2008 |
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WiMAX Wars Given by Jorn Christensen, President, J Christensen Consultants during CASBAA Singapore Satellite Industry Forum 2008. Source: CASBAA, 16 June, 2008 |
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Terrestrial threats to Fixed-Satellite Services in the C-Band (0.2MB) Given by David Ball, Chairman of CASBAA Satellite Industry Committee during CASBAA GVF conference on "Meeting the Satellite Capacity Challenge" in New Delhi. Source: CASBAA, 19 March 2007 |
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New Mobile Services and C-Band - Can We Survive? (5.8.MB) Given by Barry Turner, GM Engineering, AsiaSat during CASBAA Satellite Industry Forum 2007 in Singapore. Source: AsiaSat, 18 June 2007 |
| Papers |
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Join Our Efforts to Safeguard C-band Spectrum! Asian broadcasting and satellite organizations have united to appeal for attention and support by companies in Asia’s many countries and regions for efforts to safeguard the satellite C-band frequencies which are the lifeblood of broadcast distribution in our region. These Associations have issued a joint appeal, which we attach, and urge all CASBAA members to consider and implement. Download the appeal, here. Source: CASBAA, Mar 2013 |
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Asian Satellite Reps Describe C-band Interference Challenge CASBAA’s consultant Jorn Christensen and experts from member company Asiasat united to deliver a scientific paper and presentation to the prestigious IEEE Globecom 2012 conference in Anaheim, CA, USA on December 6, 2012. Christensen told the 2,000 assembled delegates from the global electronics and communications industries that interference into satellite reception from terrestrial broadband wireless systems is a real and growing problem in many countries. The likelihood is for the situation to get worse, he said, and the ITU is debating opening up the C-band for broader use, with potentially disastrous consequences. Download the presentation above, and the scientific paper here. Source: CASBAA, Dec 2012 |
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CASBAA Urges Australia To Avoid C-band for Mobile Broadband; Warns of International Repercussions In a submission to the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), CASBAA pointed out that decisions by national regulatory bodies can have serious repercussions for the commercial viability of international services. This is especially true of frequency allocations affecting international satellite services, and CASBAA expressed “deep concern” at ACMA consideration of licensing standard C-band frequencies for mobile broadband services. CASBAA’s bottom line: “We urge ACMA not to further consider using these frequencies for mobile broadband services, as to do so will contribute to jeopardizing essential C-band communication services across a wide swathe of Australia’s neighbouring countries.” Download the document here. Source: CASBAA, June 2011 |
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On Guard Against Interference by Wireless Systems A representative of the Asian satellite industry told a recent ITU preparatory meeting that from the point of view of interference with satellite services, “fixed” wireless services are the same as “mobile” ones. (While the transmitter is fixed, the receivers can be located anywhere within the service area, and potentially cause interference with satellite reception.) To guard against interference, satellite operators should ensure their receiving dishes are registered with government spectrum agencies, and when a wireless operator seeks new licenses in satellite frequency bands, “point out to the administration that a Fixed Wireless Network is not a fixed service as defined in the ITU Radio Regulations, but that the interference potential of a FWA transmit/receive network is the same as for a mobile network.” And the satellite industry should support proposals to WRC-12 under Agenda item 1.2 to require land point-to-area transmit/receive applications to be notified as mobile services. See the ITU document here. Source: CASBAA, February 2010 |
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the Other Side of the WiMax Wars: LTE versus WiMAX Source: CASBAA, February 2010 |
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ITU Reports Underline incompatibility of wireless and satellite services in the C-band |
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Real-life field study of the effect of a WiMAX system in an urban area  Click to enlargeA field study in Amsterdam demonstrated the effect on satellite services of an operational urban WiMAX system. The conclusions are that "An operational WiMAX system in an urban environment will not allow for any acceptable satellite reception at an observed distance of 34 km," and "(the system) caused a raised noise floor at a distance of 44 km which would be in excess of the long-term protection criterion." Source: ITU, April |
| APT Report on BWA-FSS Coexistence (1 MB) The Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT) report on the Co-existence of broadband wireless access networks in the 3400-3800 MHz band and fixed satellite service networks in the 3400-4200 MHz band. Source: APT, March 2008 |
| Position Paper - Interference in C-Band by Terrestrial Wireless Applications to Satellite Applications (0.1MB) National administrations should recognize the potential for massive disruptions to C-band satellite communications, radar systems and domestic microwave links, if spectrum is inappropriately allocated to, and frequencies inappropriately assigned for, terrestrial wireless applications in the Cband (specifically 3.4 - 4.2 GHz) Source: CASBAA, February 2007 |
| Press Articles |
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Asia-Pacific Broadcasting article Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Magazine reported on the CASBAA-led joint appeal for broadcaster support by organizations of the Asian television industry. In an editorial, APB supported the appeal, saying “...broadcasters in the region should quickly make concerted efforts to lobby their national media authorities…not to succumb to pressure by the IMT crowd at WRC-2015.” Source: APB, Mar 2013 |
| Cable Operators Urge Authorities to Solve Bandwidth Problems The Dhaka “Financial Express” newspaper published a good summary of the problems faced by Bangladeshi TV operators due to extensive interference from wireless broadband systems that have been licensed in the C-band frequencies. Quoted the newspaper, “If the problem continues, millions of viewers will be deprived of services from cable operators of the satellite television channels, the operators said.” Source: “Financial Express”, Dhaka, May 26 2012 |
| Bangladesh Press Release A joint media release by CASBAA and the Global V-Sat Forum (GVF) reported the results of a seminar attended by Dhaka regulators to hear complaints by the Bangladesh TV industry about WiMax interference. Source: CASBAA, May 18, 2012 |
