Ericsson, Qualcomm and Thales will join on testing and validation of satellite-delivered 5G networks, Qualcomm said Monday. The testing goal will be validation of technology components needed to enable 5G non-terrestrial networks (NTN), including a 5G smartphone, satellite payload and 5G network pieces on the ground, it said. Ericsson plans to verify a 5G virtual radio access network stack modified to handle radio signals propagating via low earth orbit (LEO) satellites, it said. Thales said it plans to verify a 5G radio satellite payload suitable for deployment on LEO satellites. Qualcomm said it will test phones verifying that 5G NTN can be accessed by future 5G smartphones.
The House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee has taken up the idea of an "outernet" space-based internet network, the SmallSat Alliance said Monday, citing a committee report last month that endorsed using commercial space networks "to create an 'outernet' for future military communications," with the Space Force charged with promoting interoperability standards. "The entire world will benefit from the added capability and security that is provided by truly ubiquitous global space communications.," the Alliance said.
Viasat's argument that unadjudicated interference claims aren't a basis for challenging a transfer of control (see 2206280053) ignores that the FCC has long made a distinction between levels of proof needed for a challenge when it falls outside agency purview vs. conduct involving FCC rules violations, SpaceX said Friday (docket 22-153). SpaceX said it's not seeking conditions to fix a dispute unrelated to the transaction but is arguing that Viasat is committing ongoing and willful license violations and thus lacks the character qualifications needed to justify it taking control of Inmarsat. Viasat didn't comment Friday.
Most criticisms of the pending modification of Ob3b's market access grant, which would add 70 satellites to its 20-satellite medium earth orbit system, or calls for additional conditions (see 2206220020) are baseless and unsupported, the company told the FCC International Bureau last week. It again said the agency should defer action on its proposed inter-satellite links in the 19.4-19.6 GHz frequencies used by Iridium pending more discussions between the companies. It termed as a misrepresentation of FCC precedent the argument that the application means the Ob3b system in its entirety should be considered newly filed as part of the 2020 non-geostationary orbit processing round.
Kepler told the FCC its proposed mobile satellite service (MSS) system has been licensed to operate by Germany and it holds the necessary ITU filings to operate, thus meeting the threshold for non-U.S.-licensed non-geostationary orbit systems seeking to serve the U.S. Kepler urged the agency Friday to put its MSS application on public notice.
Amazon's proposal that the FCC approve a slice of SpaceX's second-generation constellation (see 2206270001) "would needlessly harm consumers here and abroad and significantly strain Commission resources with no offsetting benefit," SpaceX told the International Bureau Wednesday. Such a piecemeal approach would undermine Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel's goal of speeding application processing of satellite applications because SpaceX would have to go back to the agency nearly 20 times, potentially delaying reviews of other operators' applications, it said.
While willing to coordinate with SpaceX if the FCC approves the latter's pending request to change the elevation angle of satellites covering the polar regions (see 2205170002), Kepler told the International Bureau Tuesday the request is clearly temporary. Kepler said acceptance of this temporary coordination isn't a blanket consent to future similar operations. It said if SpaceX wants to modify its authorization and formally reduce its evaluation angle someday, Kepler will need to assess possible interference in greater detail.
Brazil's telecommunications regulator, Anatel, gave OneWeb landing rights there, the company said Monday, announcing the 15-year license. It said Brazil is one of a few nations that will host two OneWeb satellite gateways.
Imposing an aggregate collision risk metric on SpaceX but not on other U.S.-licensed operators would jeopardize FCC authority over space sustainability, "which has an uncertain legislative nexus and has never been tested in court," SpaceX told the FCC international Bureau last week. It said the FCC hasn't claimed jurisdiction over such issues as how "broadcasters ... drive TV news vans." It said Congress has never indicated it intends for the agency to have that kind of jurisdiction over satellites, proof being it never appropriated funds for the hiring of aerospace engineers or other similar technical experts. It said a Viasat call to look at aggregate collision risk for SpaceX would "stretch the public interest standard past the breaking point, which would put the Commission’s authority over space sustainability at risk." It said applying an aggregate collision risk analysis to SpaceX's planned second-generation constellation would violate the Administrative Procedure Act "as an arbitrary and capricious rule adopted without adequate notice."
As it pivots from an earth imaging constellation operator to a provider of mission planning, licensing and flight operation services, Astro Digital asked the FCC International Bureau to amend its pending license application for 25 satellites. It said in an application filed last week all future missions will generally support or involve demonstrations or tests of imaging or imaging tech development. It said it will operate the satellite bus carrying customers' payloads. It asked for OK for uniform orbital and RF parameters for those upcoming missions.