By Chris Forrester
Drew Svor (Partner: Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton) opened his panel session at SVSW’s Satellite Innovation by specifying the actual spectrum that businesses were interested in. “Everyone seems to be moving higher and further away from traditional Ka and Ku,” he suggested.
Dr Diana Gamzina (CEO at Elve) said that some of these higher frequency banks were now ready for usage and qualification for performance had been carried out. Lower frequency band usage were done in steps, but people’s visions have changed and progress was now much faster. Planning and building usages beyond Earth was exciting.
Scott Patrick, (Exec. Dir. NTIA Office of Spectrum Management) said that the industry was in an exciting time, and he was especially interested in the 18 GHz bands. “The rule of thumb is that the FCC and NTIA are different, and there is always a need to protect existing incumbents. Spectrum is in demand, access is in demand, and going forward we might not need spectrum allocation, for example. He praised GPS, “the greatest free gift to the planet” and the hundred and one spin-offs that GPS had enabled. “When cost structures change then innovation can follow quickly.”
Dr Whitney Lohmeyer, (Chief Technologist at the FCC’s Space Bureau) said: “We have to manage processes here at the FCC, but also at the ITU. The rules and allocations of spectrum can change over time. If we can think creatively and not just look at the table allocations this would be helpful. This includes geographic variables and looking at future growth opportunities in some markets.”
However, Lohmeyer stressed that coordination was a challenge and sharing was one option, although realistically the players themselves will determine if sharing and collaboration was possible.
This view was challenged by Dr Gamzina who did not anticipate much in the way of collaboration given the huge sums being invested in new spectrum and applications.
Brian Barnett (CEO/Founder Sostar Space Co.) reminded delegates that his company were the first to place commercial WiFi into a Blue Origin spacecraft. “We are ready for the Moon, because everything will need WiFi whether on the spacecraft, the astronaut’s suits, the rovers and then inside and outside the Moonbase itself.”
Barnett added: “When we are on the Moon we will still be using Earth-based technologies. We are having to think again how we can leverage past knowledge and to do our best to solve the problems. Even if we put WiFi on the Moon the fact is that it will have to handle massive temperature variations, and we need to remember that people will need WiFi but it has to be able to re-boot itself, for example.”
Dr Lohmeyer reminded delegates about how space launch itself had changed dramatically over the past few years, and that today’s developments for satellite communications from and to a spacecraft was now a reality and funded by private cash from a number of players. Yes, there were challenges but she saw them being solved.