Comms Alliance sets agenda for future of satellite services with WRC-27 position paper

27 February 2025: Communications Alliance has set out an agenda for the future of satellite services in preparation for World Radiocommunications Conference 2027 (WRC-27).

“WRC-27 will be a major event where critical decisions are made about the future of the satellite sector – at a time when satellite services are more important than ever before,” said Comms Alliance CEO Luke Coleman.

Comms Alliance’s Satellite Services Working Group (SSWG) today published a paper outlining the satellite industry’s preferred positions for Australia to take in the lead up to the next International Telecommunications Union (ITU) World Radiocommunications Conference.

“Australia stands to benefit from advances in satellite technologies more than most other countries. We have a huge landmass with a sparse population, and our economic growth is dependent on sectors operating in regional and remote areas like resources and agriculture.”

“Revolutionary new telecoms services like direct-to-handset satellite connectivity will only become reality in Australia if we get the right outcomes at WRC-27, which is why this position paper is so important,” he said.

The SSWG has been in operation for almost 15 years, and has provided 140 submissions and position papers to Government and regulators on spectrum management and other satellite issues. Participants in the SSWG have more than 800 years of collective experience in the satellite sector.

“The WRC operates on a 4-year cycle, meaning we are already halfway through the planning process for WRC-27 – where the agenda is heavily weighted to satellite issues. It is in Australia’s interests to pursue these positions as a matter of urgency,” Mr Coleman said.

A key theme in the current WRC cycle is interference management. With the relatively recent arrival of Low Earth Orbit satellites, a number of agenda items reflect the need for coordination between satellites in different orbits to limit interference when communicating to the ground, between each other, and with other users of spectrum.

Additionally, spectrum management continues to be a key focus as increasing demand for this finite resource increases the requirement on operators and regulators to facilitate sharing of existing spectrum – as well as unlocking new bands.