paper satellites & itu – a major backlog and its prospective
TRANSCRIPT
Paper Satellites & ITU – A Major Backlog and its Prospective Impacts
on Pakistan’s Space Program
Engr. AKHTAR SAEED
Electrical Engineering Department
DHA Suffa University, Karachi 1
Abstract • The issue of the paper satellites – A major concern for the
policy makers and regulators of the global telecommunications
• The matter has been raised concerning the prospective congestion of the geostationary orbit, against such satellites; termed as 'paper', having little or no probability of ever been propelled and functional into the orbit.
• Paper or Virtual Satellites - inventories on the ITU records
by various nations - reserving for themselves a considerable range of the radio frequency spectrum of the geostationary orbit – Virtual Congestion
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Paper Evaluation
I. Satellites – A Review A. The GEO stationary orbit (GSO) B. Congestion of the Orbit C. Congestion of RF Spectrum
II. ITU & Satellites A. Scarcity of the RF Spectrum B. Effective Utilization of the Available Spectrum
III. Paper Satellites A. Origin B. Causes C. Paper Satellites & ITU
IV. Pakistan & Space A. SUPARCO B. Pakistan Space Program 2040 C. Paper Satellites & Pakistan
V. Conclusions & Recommendations
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I. Satellites – A Review
• The race of sending active satellites into the orbits began in 1957, when Russia sent its first artificial satellite, named Sputnik-I into the space [1].
• Since then, numerous efficacious attempts have been made by various nations, to lunch their privately operated satellites.
• USA, in particular took part in space exploration side by side with Russia.
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Satellite - Definition
• A communication satellite is basically a radio relay or the transponder or an object that circulates around a heavenly body, primarily the earth [8] for relaying the information across the globe (as shown below):
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Figure 1 A Communication
Satellite After: [9]
Designated Satellite Orbits • Placement of satellites in different orbits, at
distant locations.
• LEO (Low Earth Orbit)
• MEO (Medium Earth Orbit)
• GSO (Geo-Stationary Earth Orbit),
• HEO (Highly-Elliptical Orbit or Higher Earth Orbit) etc.
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Figure 2 Satellite Orbital Space
After: [13]
A. The GEO Stationary Orbit
• The GSO – typically commercial satellites.
• They appear to be stationary from a relative point on earth [2].
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B. Congestion of the GSO
• There are about 391 operational satellites in the GSO[14].
• Pattern of deploying more and more satellites have been seen, particularly in the GSO,
• Causing a considerable saturation of the orbit, particularly in the last few decades [2].
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C. Congestion of RF Spectrum
• A satellite - relays the information in the form of electromagnetic signals or RF waves.
• LOS (Line of Sight) communication link.
• The spectrum employs is the microwave region; which subsequently leads to the provision of frequency-reuse measure [11].
• This band is limited and due to an increase in the demand of the communication links, the band is nearly saturated.
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Table 1: Typical Satellite Bands [12]
Band Frequency Range Usage
L 1-2 GHz GPS, Satellite Phones
S 2-4 GHz Radars
C 4-8 GHz TV Broadcasts
X 8-12 GHz Military
Ku 12-18 GHz DBS TVs
Ka 26-40 GHz Communications/Radars
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II. ITU & Satellites
•The ITU (International Telecommunication
Union) - a global regulatory body, primarily
related to the telecommunication-related affairs
[15].
•ITU-R (Radio) Sector - dedicated for the
regulation of the frequency spectrum for the
radio communications around the globe.
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A. Scarcity of the RF Spectrum
• RF spectrum is getting saturated - No two orbiting satellites could be operated using same frequency bands and at the same location.[16].
• The inefficient usage of the available spectrum.
• According to a report published by FCC (Federal Communications Commission) - an enormous portion of the spectrum already assigned is underutilized or unutilized, ranging from 15 to 85% [16], [17].
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B. Effective Utilization of the Available Spectrum
World Radiocommunication Conference in Geneva (WRC-07) addressed the issue of regulating the orbital placement of the satellites and their usage of the available frequency spectrum [7].
The prime measures concluded to be taken include:
• Apportionment of effectively distributed frequency spectrum to all the classes of satellite communications.
• Compliance to the strict regulations by the ITU.
• Establishing an international repute of ITU, for seeking the prospective frequency allocations and their respective orbital placements.
• To provide an interference-free radio communications among the satellites.
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III. Paper Satellites
• Aggregated demand of the limited RF Spectrum, an issue has been raised, termed as Paper (or Virtual) Satellites [18].
• Paper Satellite refers to the flood of submissions for the prospective slots of satellites in the space, most of them would never be able to reach into their orbits [19].
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A. Origin • Until the end of the 1980’s, almost all filings were
made after the design and planning of the satellite
• The last two decades - tremendous growth in the satellite market, particularly in the area of broadcasting, which pertains to the GEO stationary orbit.
• Various nations initiated filing at ITU for their slot reservations; rather over-filing, which consequently made a major backlog.
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• Beginning 1990s - Tonga began filing for orbital filings without specific projects*.
• Start of the revolution in filing that has significantly altered the ITU process.
• Virtually stalled the ITU’s processing capability in the timely manner.
• About 1200 satellites have been in the waiting backlog process, having added additional 400-500 requests being included annually [18].
16 Tonga Satellites http://www.mendosa.com/tongasat.html
B. Implicative Causes
A few major related causes are [15], [21]: • Reservation of the scarce orbital and spectrum resource for
the future usage. • Monetary Benefit, i.e. for post-leasing the occupied
frequency spectrum. • Certain changes in the ITU’s organizational structure also
lead to the backlog. • Additional filings of such satellites, having no physical
existence in the orbit, but filed to restrict certain competitors.
• Several entries to increase the likelihood of the approval.
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C. Paper Satellites & ITU
• ITU has taken certain concrete measures to curtail the current trend of the paper satellites - preventing the further backlog.
• The ITU’s Plenipotentiary Conferences play a vital
role in providing the concrete and constructive measures.
• Such conferences are being held after every 4 years [22].
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ITU Backlog • A key effect of over-filing is a significant increase in the ITU backlog
– 10 years ago the time from ITU receipt to publication was 4 to 6 months
– Today it is 2 to 3 years. • The time for completion of coordination has been reduced
– Before 1997 it was effectively 9 years – Now it is 5 years with a limited 2 year extension
• Thus it is now almost impossible to complete coordination within the time limits
– This is a serious burden on administrations and operators that are planning real networks
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Due Diligence
• To try and improve the situation, WRC-97 adopted an
Administrative Due Diligence procedure
– Information about the manufacture and launch
contracts must be provided for all networks within
the regulatory time limit
• Having little impact on the situation
– The information is very general
– The ITU has no policing function
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Financial Requirements • Some administrations have been suggesting that
deposits and fees should be payable to make
satellite filings.
– e.g. US$ 1M to make a filing, returnable if the
network is launched.
• This has not found acceptable in the ITU membership as it is seen as penalising the poor and small countries.
• Cost recovery of processing and publication has
been adopted.
• None of this impacts the backlog.
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The Physical Occupancy of GSO Physical Occupancy of the GSO - August 2002
(289 satellites!)
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
-180 -160 -140 -120 -100 -80 -60 -40 -20 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180
Geostationary Orbit Position
Nu
mb
er
of
op
era
tio
na
l s
ate
llit
es
[5 degree "bin" size]
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The Paper Satellites Issue "Filing" Occupancy of the GSO - August 2002
(3084 distinct network filings - last year 2355!)
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
-180 -160 -140 -120 -100 -80 -60 -40 -20 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180
Geostationary Orbit Position
Nu
mb
er
of
op
era
tio
na
l s
ate
llit
es
[5 degree "bin" size]
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Filling versus the Real Networks Filings vs. real networks
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
-180 -160 -140 -120 -100 -80 -60 -40 -20 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180
Geostationary Orbit Position
Nu
mb
er
of
op
era
tio
na
l s
ate
llit
es
[5 degree "bin" size]
IV. Pakistan & Space - SUPARCO • Pakistan is proudly among those global countries, having a persistent
space program. • SUPARCO (Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission) is the
space regulatory body of the country, primarily responsible for the research and development work pertaining to the space and aeronautics [24].
• Ever since its inception in 1961, the commission has endeavored several successful landmarks in the field of aerospace.
• The launching of the Pakistan’s first observatory satellite, Badr-I into the space [25], [26] is noteworthy. The conspicuous Badr space exploratory project was continued by the launch of the Badr-B satellite [27], [28].
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B. Pakistan Space Program 2040 • Among the prospective space endeavors, the Pakistan
Space Program 2040 is worth-mentioning [29].
• According to the program objects, a number of satellites would be launched, inclusive of 6 LEO (Low Earth Orbit) satellites and 5 GSO satellites, till 2040 [30].
• The vision would pave the way in the prospective space explorations and observatories of Pakistan, to keep its position intact and secured in the space race and to provide viable and reliable satellites services nationwide and beyond [31].
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C. Paper Satellites & Pakistan – A Prospective Vision
• The space race of the world has become more aggressive over the past few decades, in order to achieve their national security and integrity.
• Unlike the traditional aerospace race between US and Russia, currently it is a matter of future’s sustenance to ensure an up hold in the regional space activities [32].
• Asia is one of those continents, having major number of countries that have launched the satellites indigenously into the space, including Japan, North Korea, China and India [33].
• Pakistan (SUPARCO) has been competing hard to intact its position in space observatory and exploratory endeavors.
• SUPARCO has to consider this as a serious threat to its future space prospects, particularly the Pakistan’s Space Program – 2040.
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V. Conclusion & Recommendations
• The current orbital facility of the satellites would soon be saturated and congested, unless some other options are considered.
• Telecommunication engineers, researchers and policy makers of the world has to storm their minds together to streamline the process of the backlog of the satellite filings.
• Pakistan has to refurnish and revitalize its space program so as to compete with the ever-increasing demand of the radio satellite resources, together with a vigilant contribution at ITU forums.
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References [1] S. Garber, "Sputnik - NASA's History Office," NASA History Web Curator, 10 October 2007. [Online].
Available: history.nasa.gov/sputnik/.
[2] N. Johnson, "A NEW LOOK AT THE GEO AND NEAR-GEO REGIMES: OPERATIONS, DISPOSALS, AND DEBRIS," 2011. [Online].
[3] M. Wang, S. Li, T. Li, A. Zhu and H. Liu, "Research on time division multiplexing device in satellite communication," in Proc. SPIE 5985, International Conference on Space Information Technology, January 4, 2006.
[4] Butzer, Dodson, Ferreira, Higgins, Lange, Seidler and Stens, "Multiplex signal transmission and the development of sampling techniques: the work of Herbert Raabe in contrast to that of Claude Shannon', Applicable Analysis," pp. 643-688, 2011.
[5] P. Arapoglou, K. Liolis, M. Bertinelli, A. Panagopoulos, P. Cottis and R. De Gaudenzi, "MIMO over Satellite: A Review," Communications Surveys & Tutorials," IEEE, vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 27-51, 2011.
[6] E. Biglieri, "An overview of Cognitive Radio for satellite communications," in Satellite Telecommunications (ESTEL), IEEE, 2-5 Oct. 2012.
[7] R. Mehrotra, "Regulation of Global Boradband Satellite Communications," Broadband Series, ITU, April 2012. [Online].
[8] Dan Stillman, NASA, "Satellies," NASA.
[9] R. Electronics, "Communications Satellites Technology," Radio Electronics, [Online]. Available: http://www.radio-electronics.com/info/satellite/communications_satellite/communications-satellite-technology.php.
[10] A. D. PANAGOPOULOS, P.-D. M. ARAPOGLOU and P. G. COTTIS, "SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS AT Ku, Ka and V Bands: Propagation Impairments and Mitigation Techniques," IEEE Communications Surveys, vol. 6, no. 3. 29
[11] T. Manning, Microwave Radio Transmission Design Guide, Artech House, 01-Jul-2009, p. 215.
[12] E. S. A. (ESA), "Telecommunications and Integrated Applications," ESA.
[13] I. Computational Physics, " Space Situational Awareness".
[14] E. Johnston, "List of Satellites in Geostationary Orbit," 21 Feb 2014.
[15] P. Hovstad, "ITU, the Radio Regulations and Satellite Networks," in ITU Seminar, Almaty, September 2011.
[16] Y. Feng, B. Jiao and L. Song, "Satellite-Based Spectrum Sensing for Dynamic Spectrum Sharing in Ground-Located CRNs," Wireless Pers Commun, Springer, p. 105–117, 2011.
[17] "Federal Communication Commission, Spectrum policy task force report," FCC, Washington, DC, 2002.
[18] A. L. Allison, "PAPER SATELLITES,VIRTUAL SATELLITES: Managing Satellite Orbital and Congested Environment," ISU EMBA12, Module E, The Boeing Company, August 28, 2012.
[19] Robert Jones, "Scrambling for Space in Space - ITU Plenipotentiary to Tackle ‘Paper Satellite’ Problem," ITU, Geneva, 16 September 2002.
[20] ITU, "Figure showing magnitude of the problem of overfiling," ITU Press & Public Information Service.
[21] ITU, "Agenda item 7 - Resolution 18 (Kyoto, 1994) - Administrative due diligence," in Documents of the World Radio Telecommunication Conference (WRC-97), Geneva, 1997.
[22] ITU, "ITU's Plenipotentiary Conferences".
[23] ITU, "Plenipotentiary Conference 98," Minneapolis, USA, 12 October 1998.
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[24] SUPARCO, "Mission Statement," 19 September 2012.
[25] "Aerospace Guide: Pakistan Space Programme," Aerospace Guide, Sunday 10th, July, 2011.
[26] "BADR-1 Pakistan's First Experimental Satellite," SUPARCO, Online Induction.
[27] "SUPARCO's Directorate-General for the Public Relations," SUPARCO.
[28] "BADR-B".
[29] D. M. R. Suddle, "Pakistan's Space Programme," SUPARCO Media Research Directorate, 19 December 2009.
[30] S. MURAD, "REGULATION OF SPACE ACTIVITIES: Emerging Issues & Regulatory Challenges for Pakistan’s Space Programme - 2040," in NATIONAL SPACE CONFERENCE 2012, Islamabad, 2012.
[31] "Pakistan to launch another Satellite in 2014," AFP Director for Science. Associated Press of Pakistan, Electronic Government of Pakistan, 12 August 2011.
[32] Dean Irvine, CNN, "Shooting for the moon: The new space race," CNN, October 5, 2007.
[33] C. Blume, "Asia Nations Gaining Ground in Space Race," VOA - Voice of America, Hong Kong, 17 May 2007.
Thank You
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