Sharing C-Band With Wireless Raises big Worries for Satellite Operators, SES Says

Any spectrum sharing with mobile operators needs to avoid including C-band satellite bands, SES said in a white paper Wednesday in conjunction with this week's start of World Radiocommunication Conference in Geneva. "C-band satellite networks are extremely reliable -- even in rainy regions -- and cannot be replaced by bands with different propagation characteristics and narrower beams, such as Ku- and Ka-bands," SES said. Numerous studies "have clearly concluded that sharing C-band between mobile and satellite operators is not feasible in the same geographical area since a minimum separation distance between the operations cannot be guaranteed," it said. That sharing would lead to interference that could affect everything from emergency response communications to video distribution, it said: "The risks and losses of sharing C-band to the global community far outweigh the gains to the mobile communications sector." Satellite executives have been saying for months they expect C-band reallocation issues to be a "tough battle" at WRC (see 1501150050).