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International Communication Satellite Policy

The United Kingdom is a key player in the Satellite Communication Industry. The UK takes a very active role in necessary national and international regulatory oversight of the satellite communications industry.

Communications satellites are an important delivery platform for information society services as diverse as interactive TV and mobile broadband internet access. Communication satellites are particularly useful in rural and undeveloped regions, where other systems are difficult to deploy on a commercial basis. Satellites can play a crucial role in ensuring that individules, companies, organisations and Governments around the world can access and disemminate high quality information services.

In 1945, UK visionary Sir Arthur C. Clarke proposed (published in "Extra-Terrestrial Relays," October 1945 edition of Wireless World) that the combination of rocketry, radar and wireless communications could provide an extra-terrestrial system that "relied on orbiting space stations to relay radio signals around the world". The next decade the launch of Sputnik astounded the world, bringing his vision a step closer to reality. In 1965, the first international satellite telecommunications organisation, Intelsat, launched the Early Bird satellite over the Atlantic Ocean into what is now known worldwide as "the Clarke orbit." In 1969, Intelsat completed a sequence of launches that placed satellites in space over each of the three ocean regions foreseen by Clarke nearly 25 years earlier.

Today, communication satellites carry enormous quantities of video, voice calls and data, playing crucial roles in Positioning and Navigation, Earth Observation, Environmental Monitoring, Crisis Management, Defence and Security and Emergency Services. The UK satellite industry encompasses everything from building launchers and satellites to processing satellite data.

Satellites are very important for national and international broadcasters and is now the leading delivery mechanism for digital TV including IPTV (Internet Protocol TV) and forthcoming Mobile TV.

Satellite communications touch a range of UK, EU, International and ITU regulations, policies and activities. Activities such as the Information society, broadcasting, land transport, environment, aviation, marine, space, scientific research, media and new and innovative applications are benefiting.

The UK takes an active and influential part in all three of the intergovernmental satellite organisations.

IMSO

The UK is honoured and privileged to host the presence of IMSO (International Mobile Satellite Organization) in London. IMSO is the inter-governmental organisation that oversees public emergency satellite communication services provided (currently) Inmarsat satellites. Public services include services for maritime safety within the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) established by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). This system provides distress alerting search and rescue co-ordinating communications, maritime safety information (MSI), broadcasting general communications and some aeronautical safety services established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

The Organisation operates through an Assembly of Parties (Sovereign States), that meet at least every two years. The Secretariat is headed by a Director who is the CEO and enlists the services of an Advisory Committee, comprising a small number of Member States and meets at least twice a year.

IMSO currently has 88 Member States. IMSO is established under the provisions of the Convention on the International Mobile Satellite Organization that also defines the public services, such as satellite services for the GMDSS, that are subject to international oversight.  IMSO works closely with IMO, ICAO, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and other interested international organizations. The Organization's special relationship with IMO is fostered and maintained by regular reports to the IMO Maritime Safety Committee on the provision and quality of satellite services for the GMDSS.

EUTELSAT IGO

EUTELSAT IGO is a residual intergovernmental organisation founded as the European Telecommunications Satellite Organization in 1985 as an intergovernmental organization which now represents 47 member countries of Europe. In 2001, EUTELSAT's structure was separated into two tiers: Eutelsat, S.A., a private limited company (société anonyme) headquartered in Paris and an intergovernmental organization which ensures that basic principles of pan-European coverage, universal service, non-discrimination and fair competition are observed by the company.

Eutelsat was the first satellite operator in Europe to broadcast television channels direct-to-home. Following the principle of general liberalisation of the telecommunications sector in Europe, the IGO's operations and activities were transferred to Eutelsat S.A. This resulted in greater flexibility for Eutelsat in pricing and developing its own distribution network.

ITSO

In 1964 the International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (ITSO), previously known as INTELSAT, was formed by a group of nations to join the United Kingdom in 1964 to establish a global communications satellite system. ITSO is an intergovernmental organisation that establishes that communications satellites should be available to the nations of the world as soon as practicable on a global and on-discriminatory basis. It also incorporates the "Outer Space Treaty," which states that outer space shall be used for the benefit and in the interest of all countries. The highest decision making body in ITSO is the Assembly of Parties. In 2000 the Assembly approved the legal instruments and framework necessary to create a commercial and pro-competitive company named Intelsat Ltd. head quartered in Bermuda (UK Overseas Territory) and is operationally based in Washington D.C. Intelsat Ltd. providing the space segment capacity in accordance with the core principles of global coverage and lifeline connectivity and non-discriminatory access.

ITSO is succesful in providing high quality and reliable space segment capacity for public telecommunications services, including telephony, data, video and Internet connectivity, to more than 200 countries and territories, no matter their location, size or level of development. The current Assembly comprises 148 member countries and meets at least every two years. ITSO is headed by the Director General responsible to the Assembly of Parties. An advisory committee comprised of representatives of 19 member countries (the UK is one) provides consultative advice to the Director General.

The United Kingdom and United States are the two countries selected by the Organization to manage licensing issues.