SES Hope To Use Eutelsat Freqs. From Oct.

Gerry Wicklow

It seems SES has won the dispute over certain frequencies being used by Eutelsat at 28.5. We can look forward to better signal strength and more capacity.:)

http://www.ses.com/4233325/news/2013/16011671

The Cush

Summary of the original dispute between Astra and Eutelsat over that satellite location

Satellites frequencies: the decisions of WARC -77 and the "heavenly peace" between EUTELSAT and the SES

Digital satellite broadcasting needed no new frequency allocation. European operators can broadcast within the same wavebands as those laid down by the UIT for analogue broadcasting:
· 0.7 to 11.7 GHz for Satellite Fixed Services (SFS), often referred to as “telecommunications satellites”
· 11.7 to 12.5 GHz for direct broadcasting satellites (DBS), laid down by WARC-77.
· The bandwidth allocated to DBS was subsequently opened up by the UIT to services other than DBS, due to the failure of the first-generation DBS satellite systems. For digital broadcasting, the 11.7 to 12.5 waveband has the advantage of the higher satellite-to-ground transmitter power allowed by the UIT.

There has been a dispute since 1996 over the launch of digital television services, between the two major European satellite operators EUTELSAT and the Société Européenne de Satellites (SES), with both organisations wanting the 28.2° East position for broadcasts over the 11.7 – 12.5 waveband. The dispute put a brake on the development of the two companies and had a knock-on effect on broadcasters' plans for digital services.

The protagonists have now managed to work out a solution to the conflict. The 8 June 1999, EUTELSAT and Société Européenne des Satellites (SES) have reached a comprehensive intersystem co-ordination agreement which will optimise the use of the scarce natural resource of satellite broadcasting frequencies over Europe. The agreement, which was achieved with the active involvement of Deutsche Telekom AG (DT AG), covers the current and planned use of certain orbital positions in the respective Ku frequency bands over Europe.

The aim of the intersystem co-ordination agreement between Europe’s two leading satellite operators is to create new business opportunities for both organisations. The agreement continues to ensure - in the best interest of millions of European satellite users - interference-free satellite broadcasting skies over Europe. According to the two operators, it also favours competition in the satellite communications sector and enhances the long-term competitiveness of satellite transmissions over alternative distribution means.

According to the intersystem co-ordination agreement, SES, in addition to the continued provision of services in the BSS band (11.70 to 12.50 GHz) at 28.2 degrees East, will also use frequencies in the FSS band (10.70 to 11.20 GHz) for Direct-to-Home Services. EUTELSAT will use at 28.5 degrees East the frequencies in the FSS band (11.20 to 11.70 GHz and 12.50 to 12.75 GHz), in particular to ensure the continuation of services currently carried on DT AG’s DFS Kopernikus satellite at that orbital location. SES will use Frequencies from 12.50 to 12.75 GHz at 28.2 degrees East for operations outside of Europe. The Agreement also extends to mutually interference-free operations within the arc 16 degrees East to 21.5 degrees East for both operators.

Source: Developments of digital television in European Union 4.12.1999

watty

Back in 1999 SES have agreed then to limit beam west of 16E is SES hasn't "won" as such. 28E was originally a slot allocated to Eutelsat for Central and Eastern Europe. That was re-affirmed.

SES strongly disagrees with Eutelsat’s position on the remaining claims to be decided by the Arbitral Tribunal in the second phase of the arbitration proceedings and will continue to vigorously defend its right to use these frequencies from October 4, 2013. Consequently, SES holds any associated claims for damages and costs to be unfounded and completely without merit or basis.

Well of course SES disagrees.

I'd guess narrower beams makes it a pointless argument. Eutelsat was never meant to be broadcasting to UK. SES ought to have been using "X" degrees West for UK, but in practice can broadcast to UK from 28E without reception East beyond France in future.

Perhaps they are still fighting over African services from 28E. I think these were never allocated to Eutelsat. So If Eutelsat continues at 28.5E it will be Central & Eastern European spots only.

Most of the intended allocations got messed up in 1990s.

The Cush

Gerry Wicklow wrote: »

It seems SES has won the dispute over certain frequencies being used by Eutelsat at 28.5. We can look forward to better signal strength and more capacity.:)

http://www.ses.com/4233325/news/2013/16011671

Eutelsat's press release - http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/eutelsat-statement-on-operations-at-285-east-223867031.html

From their release

On 30 August 2013, Media Broadcast obtained a preliminary injunction before the Regional Civil Court of Bonn preventing the use by Eutelsat of the disputed frequencies in the event that this creates harmful interference. Eutelsat will appeal this preliminary decision and confirms it does not intend to create harmful interference.

http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2013/09/16/ses-claims-full-rights-at-28-east/

The Cush

On Jan 30th SES and Eutelsat issued a joint press release announcing they had settled their dispute over the 28.2°E orbital position

http://www.eutelsat.com/home/news/press-releases/2014/press-list-container/eutelsat-and-ses-settle-their-di.html
http://www.ses.com/4233325/news/2014/16846982

The original dispute goes back to the late 1990s and is summarised in the quote in my post above. This agreement expired late last year and resulted in the big channel reshuffle last Oct - http://www.a516digital.com/2013/09/satellite-channels-reshuffle-as-ses.html

Three agreements were reached

The first agreement ends the arbitral procedure between Eutelsat and SES that was initiated in October 2012 under the rules of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in Paris. The dispute concerned a right of use of 500 MHz spectrum at the 28.5 degrees East orbital position. Eutelsat ceased to operate this spectrum on 3 October 2013 and SES has operated this spectrum since that date. The dispute over this right of use has now been resolved, with SES continuing to operate its satellites at this location, and Eutelsat independently commercialising part of the capacity of the previously disputed frequencies.

According to the second agreement between both companies, Eutelsat has therefore contracted long-term satellite capacity on the SES satellite fleet at the 28.5 degrees East orbital position. Eutelsat will commercialise over Europe on the SES fleet 125 MHz (eight transponders) of the formerly disputed 500 MHz. Eutelsat will also commercialise on the SES fleet the 250 MHz (12 transponders) which was not the subject of the legal proceedings. The 20 transponders will be operated on three new satellites which SES is deploying at the 28.2/28.5 degrees East neighbourhood – ASTRA 2F, ASTRA 2E and ASTRA 2G – of which the first two have been launched and are operational, while the third is planned for launch later this year.

The third agreement between the two companies addresses technical frequency coordination under the rules of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). It will allow both parties an optimised use of their respective spectrum at a number of orbital positions over Europe, the Middle East and Africa. It confirms and clarifies in technical terms the geographic coverage and transmission power levels for frequencies at these positions.

Basically the disputed spectrum issue is resolved in SES's favour in relation to 28 degs. east. Also spectrum operated by both companies in Europe, the Middle East and Africa has been clarified and agreed so that a similar situation doesn't arise again.

They have also agreed on spectrum and satellite usage at 28.2°E
- Eutelsat will use the Astra 2E, 2F and 2G satellites
- Eutelsat will use 12 transponders on the Astra sats for 250MHz of spectrum it hold rights to at 28.2°E
- Eutelsat will use a further 8 transponders on the Astra sats for 125MHz of spectrum it previously held at 28.2°E

Frequency||1999|2014
10.7 - 11.20|500 MHz|Astra|Astra
11.20 - 11.45|250 MHz|Eutelsat|Eutelsat
11.45 - 11.70|250 MHz|Eutelsat|Astra
11.70 - 12.5|800 MHz|Astra|Astra
12.5 - 12.75|250 MHz|Eutelsat|Astra