Abstract
The development of satellite constellations and large infrastructures has been coming the last few years. Although this advancement provides for a myriad of technological developments, private initiatives and opportunities, it also provides governments, institutions and private actors with regulatory and legal challenges.
The introduction of satellite constellations and infrastructures provides for different challenges of a various nature. This chapter focuses on the link between the legal regimes of telecommunications and the use of outer space in relation to satellite constellations. It explores how the scarcity of frequencies, which is a topic that is traditionally affiliated to (national and international) telecommunications law, will be a very relevant topic in relation to the advent of satellite constellations and space-law-related topics. It also raises the question how the role of administrations and supranational organisations can be filled in the light of these recent developments, and it attempts to address a couple of current issues at hand.
The author has written this chapter in her personal capacity and its contents should not be attributed to her position at the Dutch Radio Communications Agency.
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Notes
- 1.
See for example: SpaceNews, ‘SpaceX, OneWeb detail constellation plans to Congress’ (October 26, 2017) <https://spacenews.com/spacex-oneweb-detail-constellation-plans-to-congress/> accessed 29 September 2018.
- 2.
United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs and the International Telecommunication Union UNCOPUOS (Legal Subcommittee) Fifty-fourth session 13-24 April 2015 ‘Guidance on Space Object Registration and Frequency Management for Small and Very Small Satellites’ (13 April 2015) A/AC.105/C.2/2015/CRP.17.
- 3.
OneWeb is planning on launching a satellite constellation, consisting of more than 900 microsatellites.
- 4.
Francis Lyall, International Communications, the International Telecommunications Union and the Universal Postal Union (Ashgate 2011), pp. 3–4.
- 5.
Constitution of the International Telecommunication Union 1992, article 2.
- 6.
Constitution of the International Telecommunication Union 1992, article 1.
- 7.
Radio Regulations 1995, Annex to Resolution 71, Background on the strategic plan for the Union for 2016–2019.
- 8.
Radio Regulations 1995, Article 9, Section I.
- 9.
Radio Regulations 1995, Article 9, Section II.
- 10.
Ibid. under n. 9 and 10.
- 11.
Radio Regulations 1995, Article 11.44.
- 12.
United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs and the International Telecommuniction Union UNCOPUOS (Legal Subcommittee) Fifty-fourth session 13-24 April 2015 ‘Guidance on Space Object Registration and Frequency Management for Small and Very Small Satellites’ (13 April 2015) A/AC.105/C.2/2015/CRP.17.
- 13.
Yvon Henri, ‘Regulatory challenges for small satellites and new satellite constellations’ (ITU International Satellite Symposium 2017, Bariloche, 29-31 May 2017).
- 14.
Stephan Hobe, ‘Article I of the Outer Space Treaty’ in Prof. Dr. Stephan Hobe, Dr. Bernard Schmidt-Tedd and Prof. Dr. Kai-Uwe Schrogl (eds) Cologne Commentaries on Space Law (Wolters Kluwer 2013).
- 15.
See for example the Netherlands Radio Spectrum Policy Memorandum (2016).
- 16.
Yvon Henri, ‘BR Director’s Report to WRC-15, NGSO Issues’ (Workshop on the Efficient Use of the Orbit Spectrum Resource, Danang, 2015).
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Morssink, M. (2019). An Equitable and Efficient Use of Outer Space and Its Resources and the Role of the UN, the ITU and States Parties. In: Froehlich, A. (eds) Legal Aspects Around Satellite Constellations. Studies in Space Policy, vol 19. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-06028-2_1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-06028-2_1
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