Legal aspects of Galileo satellite frequencies.
- Paper number
IAC-06-E6.5.13
- Author
Mr. Jeroen Seydel, International Institute of Air and Space Law, Leiden University, The Netherlands, The Netherlands
- Coauthor
Mrs. Suzanne Rosmalen, The Netherlands
- Year
2006
- Abstract
On the 28th of December, the first Galileo satellite, Giove-A, is launched. It will demonstrate key technologies needed for Galileo and secure access to the Galileo frequencies allocated by the International Telecommunications Union. An important question here is how satellite frequencies can be obtained by the GNSS-authority that is going to supervise Galileo. The ITU-framework, after all, provides for Member States to request a frequency. It is also possible for non-states to be a so-called Sector Member, which enables direct participation by a company in the development of standards. Neither the Galileo Undertaking nor the GNSS-authority however is a state or a sector-member. Therefore there has to be a special legal construction to obtain the frequencies and make it possible for Galileo to become operative. According to the regulation on the establishment of structures for the management of the European satellite radio-navigation programmes (European GNSS-authority), member states “ …should also allow the Authority to assign the right to use thereof to the concession holder for the duration of the concession, so as to enable the latter to provide the requisite services stipulated in the specifications.” (recital 9). In order to answer the main question, the following issues will be covered by the paper: • The ITU-Framework on satellite frequencies and how to obtain satellite frequencies; • The actual assignment, allocation and allotment of GNSS-based satellite frequencies in ITU-Framework; • The special place of the Galileo Joint Undertaking and the European GNSS Authority in ITU-Framework; • The present status of Galileo and its frequencies; and • A look forward to future Galileo satellites and how they would be handled.
- Abstract document