PARIS - Rulings by the World Radiocommunications Conference (WRC) will ensure satellite operators uninterrupted use of the C-band spectrum and the promise of future bandwidth in which to roll out new broadband services.

The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) body last week concluded four weeks of discussion at the WRC-07 conference with an unequivocal decision not to open up the 3.4-4.2 GHZ C-band to Wimax and other so-called International Mobile Telecom (IMT) users (DAILY, Sept. 12).

The ruling does not outlaw use of C-band by IMT networks, but says the frequency spectrum cannot be globally harmonized for terrestrial use. Countries that wish to introduce or authorize C-band terrestrial use on a national basis can do so through an "opt-in" footnote.

Industry sources say a number of countries - mostly from Europe - have signaled their intention to allocate the Extended C-band part of the spectrum, from 3.4 to 3.6 GHz, for terrestrial mobile use through such footnotes. However, such allocations would be subject to ITU coordination requirements and meet cross-border high flux density limits, severely constraining their application and affording suitable protection from interference to satellite operators, they indicate.

WRC-07 also promised the satellite mobile operators use of much of the terrestrial spectrum below 1 GHz that is opening up in the wake of the transition from analog to digital technology. The UHF band, in the 620-790 MHz range, has been used for broadcasting in some areas such as Russia. However, industry officials say strict limitations on use of this spectrum would restrict interest in it for satellite use.

In a joint communique by three of the biggest satellite operators -Intelsat, SES and Inmarsat - Intelsat General Counsel Phil Spector noted the satellite industry had banded together in an unprecedented lobbying effort to thwart the attempt by terrestrial operators to encroach upon C-band spectrum.

Rob Bednarek, CEO of SES's New Skies affiliate, said the decisions underscore "the critical nature" of C-band satellite services, which are widely used, particularly in Asia and Latin America, not only for TV, Internet and fixed and mobile telephony, but for broadband as well, and will ensure operators of sufficient bandwidth to launch new services.

The strong lobbying effort also is expected to bode well for further frequency battles to come, not only in C-band but also in S-band (2-4 GHz), part of which is currently set aside for development of hybrid mobile broadband satellite services.