Starlink : Regulatory Filings outside the United States

[su27k]

reddit user /u/_EXPLOSIONS_ found out SpaceX has submitted an application for Basic International Telecommunications Services (BITS) Licence in Canada, I couldn't find any details on the Canadian website though, it's just a number and a name, which you can see by go here and sort by posted date, descending. The application number is "8190-S206-202002799", posted date is May 20th.

[flyright]

Likewise couldn't find any details of what's in the application, but found the 75 or so "Interventions" interesting to read. All the comments I read were in favor of approving the application, and several contained examples of why such a service is badly needed in rural Canada.

[Swedish chef]

Likewise couldn't find any details of what's in the application, but found the 75 or so "Interventions" interesting to read. All the comments I read were in favor of approving the application, and several contained examples of why such a service is badly needed in rural Canada.

I do love SpaceX like the next guy, but yeah. That looks to me like a bit of Astroturfing. Or perhaps I'm a bit cynical as a person and this is how every Canadian acts in regards to boring radio transmission applications.

[meberbs]

Likewise couldn't find any details of what's in the application, but found the 75 or so "Interventions" interesting to read. All the comments I read were in favor of approving the application, and several contained examples of why such a service is badly needed in rural Canada.

I do love SpaceX like the next guy, but yeah. That looks to me like a bit of Astroturfing. Or perhaps I'm a bit cynical as a person and this is how every Canadian acts in regards to boring radio transmission applications.

Or this could be something that people legitimately want, because while I am in the U.S., I think a lot of complaints about internet companies especially in rural would be shared. The few I checked all looked unique and reasonable to be something people would actually write. I checked and the form requires address information as well, this requires more to fake out than just hitting submit a bunch of times.

There are many reasons (really variations on the obvious big reasons) for regular people to care about SpaceX being able to provide internet service, and no rational reasons to be against it (This is just for access in Canada, the satellites will be there regardless, so anyone protesting because of some nonsense about it killing the night sky wouldn't even be responding in a relevant venue.) If there were a significant amount of negative comments, then it would be reason to wonder if they were legitimate. So maybe don't jump to accusations of fraud when you have no evidence to support that.

[Swedish chef]

So maybe don't jump to accusations of fraud when you have no evidence to support that.

I did not call it fraud, i called it astroturfing. Perhaps its semantics from my side but i believe its a common enough occurrence to get its own word defining it.

Looking closer to one of the interventions, the one made by a woman called Jill Palmquist and with a email adress called [email protected] i noticed that she is very tech savvy using a throw away email address. https://services.crtc.gc.ca/pub/ListeInterventionList/Documents.aspx?ID=292644&en=2020-0279-9&dt=i&lang=e&S=O&PA=T&PT=A&PST=A

https://jourrapide.com/

jourrapide.com is part of a free disposable email address service called Adresse E-mail Temporaire. This service allows anyone to create a temporary email address that is only capable of receiving email. No legitimate email will ever be sent from jourrapide.com.

First the name and email address don't match, second i cant find her using google. So that one seems suspicious enough for me to call it astroturfing. I could go on but the mere number of comments raises a red flag with me.

[Arb]

It's mostly folk from r/Starlink.

See: https://www.reddit.com/r/Starlink/comments/go36vf/spacex_submitted_an_application_for_a_basic/

[Swedish chef]

It's mostly folk from r/Starlink.

Well that settles it, I was wrong.

[rakaydos]

Yeah it's less AstroTurfing, and more of a raid. Those who have heard about starlink are usually people already favorable to SpaceX's activities,especially those who go through the work to find the comment section of regulatory paperwork.

[envy887]

Yeah it's less AstroTurfing, and more of a raid. Those who have heard about starlink are usually people already favorable to SpaceX's activities,especially those who go through the work to find the comment section of regulatory paperwork.

Did anything like this (a large public following of active supporters) happen for other LEO constellations?

[meberbs]

So maybe don't jump to accusations of fraud when you have no evidence to support that.

I did not call it fraud, i called it astroturfing. Perhaps its semantics from my side but i believe its a common enough occurrence to get its own word defining it.

The rest has already been settled, so not too important, but astroturfing is a subcategory of fraud, I switched to the more general term to make the seriousness of the statement clear to anyone less familiar with the term,

The only thing I thought was strange was how I could not find another reference to that filing elsewhere on the internet other than this thread, yet clearly others had found it. That mystery has now been solved, I didn't do a good enough job looking.

[mulp]

Are these applications to transmit over Canada, or applications to have hundreds of thousands of transmitters on Canadian soil?

I'm old enough to remember when any radio transmitter required a licensed operator who passed an engineering test, and the debate/controversy of CB radios to allow any tom dick and harry to operate a radio.

I'm guessing the pizza box on a stick uses more power than a cell phone, but less than a CB radio.

Or it application to be a telco aka common carrier operating in Canada.

The ITU coordinates allocation of spectrum and number assignments, but the authority within each nation is authorized by each nation.

[su27k]

News article about the Canadian application: Elon Musk's company SpaceX applies to offer high-speed internet service to Canadians

I don't think there's anything new beyond what we already know.

[RedLineTrain]

1,609 interventions.  It appears that this was the most comments received on an issue by CRTC since 2013.

[RedLineTrain]

At the request of OneWeb, the CRTC extended the comment period on SpaceX telecommunication application.  Thankfully, the CRTC saw through OneWeb's attempt to delay the license issuance and only extended the comment period by a week.

So far, there are over 1,800 public comments, almost all of which are positive toward Starlink.

[wannamoonbase]

At the request of OneWeb, the CRTC extended the comment period on SpaceX telecommunication application.  Thankfully, the CRTC saw through OneWeb's attempt to delay the license issuance and only extended the comment period by a week.

So far, there are over 1,800 public comments, almost all of which are positive toward Starlink.

I grew up in rural Saskatchewan.  The ISP options are not excellent and braodband is even worse.  Starlink, if it delivers as promised would find a sizeable customer base.

CRTC is not an a push over though, they won't get an easy pass.

[Vanspace]

Well this is one Canadian who opposes this horribly bad idea.

Do you have any idea the horrors of letting teenagers from Tuktiuktuk loose on the net will bring?

This is a place where watching paint dry IS exciting. It means somebody had so much money they could afford to have paint shipped thousands of miles over ice roads! I'm talking entirely new levels of bored teenagers wreaking havoc.

Soon there will be the oolikaan oil challenge and a craze for inukshucking. Throat singer covers of metal bands. Cute caribou videos could overtake cat videos. Madness Insanity and a complete breakdown in civilization are certain if this comes to pass!

The comments have to be astroturfing, no real Canadian would even consider it.

 

[Vanspace]

On the serious side, CRTC has a primary responsibility to expand connections to rural areas with a very heavy emphasis on getting First Nations connected. There is no way the CRTC would turn down a plan that delivers and doesn't cost the government anything. Ultimately, Trudeau can see that being the first PM to actually deliver on a promise of massive upgrade in services to the Far North is a huge political win.

Astroturf or not, Big Three opposition or not, there is no way the politics of this come out any other way.

[haywoodfloyd]

This is the only way the Big Three (Four?) will show some love to their rural customers.
Heck, even during this pandemic when remote schooling has been made mandatory in Ontario, repeated attempts to get Rogers to cut us some slack on their wireless Rocket Hub have fallen on deaf ears. Some have seen their monthly Internet bills rise to $300 and $400.
Shameful.
Let's hope Starlink is successful and levels the playing field.
Also let's hope the user terminal comes in at a reasonable price.

[Ghoti]

On the serious side, CRTC has a primary responsibility to expand connections to rural areas with a very heavy emphasis on getting First Nations connected. There is no way the CRTC would turn down a plan that delivers and doesn't cost the government anything. Ultimately, Trudeau can see that being the first PM to actually deliver on a promise of massive upgrade in services to the Far North is a huge political win.

Astroturf or not, Big Three opposition or not, there is no way the politics of this come out any other way.

On the other hand Telesat Canada is listed as the 10th biggest government lobbyist during this past May. Cabinet gets the final say whether Spacex gets licenses that make Telesat's proposed system less viable. (Despite the CRTC being "independent")

[haywoodfloyd]

Trudeau is looking for votes wherever he can get them so I doubt he would do anything to alienate the rural voters, even though most of his support is in the big urban centres.
Besides, one of his stated promises ever since he first got elected was to ensure affordable highspeed Internet was available to everyone.
More virtue signalling I know but this would also be a friendly gesture to our "friends" in the US.
Telesat is late to the constellation game and should not be rewarded for that.

[RedLineTrain]

Cabinet gets the final say whether Spacex gets licenses that make Telesat's proposed system less viable. (Despite the CRTC being "independent")

What is the formal method that the government would use to interfere?  Wouldn't the overwhelmingly supportive inverventions make that unlikely at the CRTC?

I remember seeing the government interfering by slowing permission for ground stations (through ISED), but SpaceX could probably get by with using US ground stations for a while.

What entity in Canada licenses the user terminals?  ISED?

[haywoodfloyd]

There wouldn't be any "formal" method, because that would fly in the face of the independent nature of the CRTC and we couldn't have that, could we.
No, it would be more along the lines of what you suggested. ISED does license telecom equipment and yes, the government could drag its heels on that.
Quebec is always the fly in the ointment and if Videotron made enough of a stink inside the Cabinet (not publicly of course) then I'm sure Trudeau et al would work their magic (?) and make things difficult for Starlink in that province, which would probably be one of the largest chunks of potential business.
I would be shocked if this gets through easily.

[RedLineTrain]

SpaceX July 20 letter to the Canadian regulators CRTC...

Dear Mr. Tousignant:

Thank you for your letter of 2 July 2020 offering SpaceX the opportunity to comment on the public interventions submitting in response to its application for a BITS license, as cited above.  SpaceX was pleased to see that more than 2,000 Canadian citizens weighed in to support licensing Starlink, our satellite broadband service.  Many of the comments noted the urgency of additional broadband options for consumers and locations that either have limited broadband choice now or no connectivity whatsoever.  This outpouring of support is particularly gratifying, in that it reflects the objectives of the Starlink project.

Seven commenters referenced concern at the visibility of Starlink satellites and the effect they might have on optical astronomy. As a space company itself, SpaceX has taken such concerns seriously, and has committed to lessening the visibility of its satellites so that they do not impede optical observations and are not visible to those enjoying the night skies.  SpaceX has worked for the past year alongside astronomers around the world to assess the visibility of Starlink satellites and their impact on ground-based astronomy.  To reduce visibility once the satellites reach operational orbital, SpaceX flew a darkened test satellite in January 2020, and a subsequent test shade in May 2020, achieving notable dimming.  Every satellite on SpaceX’s upcoming launch will feature these novel shades, designed specifically to reduce visibility. To mitigate reflectivity before the satellites reach their operational orbit, SpaceX adjusted the satellites’ orientation during orbit-raise so that they are less visible to the unaided eye within a week after launch.  SpaceX has also taken additional steps to aid astronomers, such as sharing location information of its satellites with astronomers, to inform scheduling sensitive observations. 

Detailed information on SpaceX’s work with astronomers and mitigation techniques can be found online at https://www.spacex.com/updates/starlink-update-04-28-2020/.


SpaceX thanks CRTC for the public forum its application process creates and for the opportunity to share its appreciation for the support for Starlink that so many Canadians have voiced.  SpaceX stands ready to responds to any further questions CRTC may have.

https://services.crtc.gc.ca/pub/ListeInterventionList/Documents.aspx?ID=295668&en=2020-0279-9&dt=r&lang=e&S=C&PA=T&PT=BITS&PST=A

[su27k]

Weird, SpaceX has another application for BITS licence, already approved:

https://twitter.com/bramabramson/status/1303749618732355584

Meanwhile, in a coda to this dusty footnote of regulatory arcania, the @SpaceXStarlink family had a whole other Canada BITS licence all along, it only took a name change from TIBRO Canada to SpaceX Canada to show it.

[sdsds]

TIBRO <-> ORBIT

[gongora]

Weird, SpaceX has another application for BITS licence, already approved:

https://twitter.com/bramabramson/status/1303749618732355584

Meanwhile, in a coda to this dusty footnote of regulatory arcania, the @SpaceXStarlink family had a whole other Canada BITS licence all along, it only took a name change from TIBRO Canada to SpaceX Canada to show it.

I ran across the TIBRO name in another context recently but didn't think to check for it in the lists of licensed satellite systems

[gongora]

I'm not sure what that BITS license for TIBRO covers.  The SpaceX satellite network is still not listed as approved.  I guess TIBRO/SpaceX Canada is the entity that would sell the service in Canada once the satellite communications are approved.  I haven't run across another country yet that gives as much info online as the FCC.

[TorenAltair]

OK, I have something for you..

TIBRO Netherlands B.V. Burgermeester Stramanweg 122 . 1101EN Amsterdam Niederlande
Reg-Nr. 19/182
has a licence in Germany as a communication servive (https://www.bundesnetzagentur.de/SharedDocs/Downloads/DE/Sachgebiete/Telekommunikation/Unternehmen_Institutionen/Anbieterpflichten/Meldepflicht/TKDiensteanbieterPDF.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=98)

The address above is the location of Tesla, Netherlands (https://www.tesla.com/en_EU/contact)

[gongora]

There is a UK branch too.

[MarkW]

There is a UK branch too.

Are you meaning this company?

https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/BR021265

[gongora]

There is a UK branch too.

Are you meaning this company?

https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/BR021265

Yes, I ran across the US, Netherlands, UK references a couple weeks ago.  Didn't see the one in Canada at the time.

[gongora]

https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2020G00650

AUSTRALIAN COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA AUTHORITY

Telecommunications Act 1997
Subsection 56(1)

CARRIER LICENCE

I, Dominic Byrne, delegate of the Australian Communications and Media Authority, acting under subsection 56(1) of the Telecommunications Act 1997, grant a carrier licence to TIBRO Australia Pty Ltd (ABN 68 636 841 533).

Note:         See Division 3 of Part 3 of the Telecommunications Act 1997 which provides for the conditions of a carrier licence and contains other provisions relating to those conditions.  The Telecommunications Act 1997 is registered on the Federal Register of Legislation which may be accessed at www.legislation.gov.au.

Dated: 7 August 2020

[Azular]

There is a UK branch too.

Also a Norewgian branch, but a different name.

In Norway the company name in use appears to be "Steam Systems AS"

https://e24.no/naeringsliv/i/naVnqn/spacex-tar-over-norske-steam-systems

Formed in 2014 by a law firm (Schjřdt) this was believed to be on behalf of SpaceX though this was not confirmed until 2018 when there was a change of ownership to SpaceX Services.

In 2019 a new board member (Michael James Sylvester) was added which is a (probable) match to "Sylvester, Michael" of "Space Exploration Technologies Corp." in Hawthorne

Bernard

[gongora]

There is a UK branch too.

Also a Norewgian branch, but a different name.

In Norway the company name in use appears to be "Steam Systems AS"

https://e24.no/naeringsliv/i/naVnqn/spacex-tar-over-norske-steam-systems

Formed in 2014 by a law firm (Schjřdt) this was believed to be on behalf of SpaceX though this was not confirmed until 2018 when there was a change of ownership to SpaceX Services.

In 2019 a new board member (Michael James Sylvester) was added which is a (probable) match to "Sylvester, Michael" of "Space Exploration Technologies Corp." in Hawthorne

Bernard

That should be the company that did the initial ITU filings for the constellation.

[su27k]

Northern towns push to approve Elon Musk's Starlink satellite internet project

The Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities (FONOM) believe Elon Musk's Starlink satellite internet program is the long-awaited solution to the region's internet coverage issues.

As the group discussed at its recent meeting in Hearst, the program hopes to do away with the decades-long efforts and billions of dollars needed to build internet infrastructure on the ground.

FONOM's vice-president, Paul Schoppmann, said the only roadblock is approval from the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC).

Schoppmann said bringing Starlink to Canada would be of zero cost to the federal government, with the company apparently asking for no financial support. He said that makes this an easy decision.

"We're sending the resolution to our MPs, MPPs and the CRTC [...] saying, 'We represent 110 municipalities in the northeast," said Schoppmann, who is also mayor of the Municipality of St. Charles, southeast of Sudbury.

"We are asking for this but let's get it going, let's not wait two to five years."

[su27k]

Found by reddit, note James Cumming is Canadian shadow minister of Innovation, Science and Industry:

https://twitter.com/jameskcumming/status/1311766703035031554

That was a weird way to totally not answer my question...

Someone tell Minister Bains to dm me his answer: what's the hold up on giving @SpaceX their license to allow #StarLink to provide internet to rural Canadians?

#ConnectCanada

[su27k]

Found by reddit: IFT y SpaceX discuten proyecto de red satelital

Google translated:

IFT and SpaceX discuss satellite network project

The Federal Institute of Telecommunications (IFT) held a meeting with representatives of SpaceX, the aerospace technology company owned by Elon Musk, to discuss the Starlink project, which consists of the deployment of a satellite network to offer high-speed broadband internet speed on a global scale.

At this meeting held on September 10, the issue of regulatory provisions on satellite communication, necessary for the operation of the Space X satellite constellation in the country, was also addressed.

edit/gongora:  trimmed quote.  Do not post the entire text of articles.  That rule even applies for articles not written in English.

Note IFT is Mexico's telecom regulatory agency.

[su27k]

Starlink New Zealand found by reddit: https://app.companiesoffice.govt.nz/companies/app/ui/pages/companies/7744177

reddit also found out that TIBRO Australia changed its name to Starlink Australia a few days ago: https://abr.business.gov.au/AbnHistory/View?id=68636841533

4 Australia gateway locations: https://twitter.com/VedaPrime/status/1315036615304048640

[su27k]

u/softwaresaur found SpaceX filing to Japanese Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (written in Japanese of course), his summary on reddit:

* Filed in April 2020
* Local subsidiary TIBRO Japan GK
* Cooperating with KDDI, a major Japanese telecom company
* Peak transmission rates of a Starlink terminal with a phased array antenna: 350 Mbps down, 130 Mbps up.
* Antenna size: 48 cm (19 inches; p.19) or 55 cm (21.7 inches; p.4). The latter is bigger than what SpaceX filed with the FCC in 2019 and mentioned in an interview with the VP of Starlink, 48 cm. Confusing inconsistency.
* Use cases on page 3: remote locations, disaster relief, mobile backhaul, aircrafts, marine, remote IoT.

[gongora]

4 Australia gateway locations: https://twitter.com/VedaPrime/status/1315036615304048640

https://web.acma.gov.au/rrl/register_search.main_page
Wagin, WA, AU  -33.308268°,117.343372°
Boorowa, NSW, AU  -34.462093°,148.705734°
Broken Hill, NSW, AU  -31.998258°,141.441058°
Pimba, SA, AU     -31.250747°,136.801335°

[RedLineTrain]

Looks like on October 9, Canada's CRTC approved the BITS license for Starlink.

https://services.crtc.gc.ca/pub/instances-proceedings/Default-Defaut.aspx?S=C&PA=T&PT=BITS&PST=A&Lang=eng

I do not know whether there are other hoops that SpaceX will have to jump through to get to a public beta.  Perhaps ISED approval.

[gongora]

https://rrf.rsm.govt.nz/smart-web/smart/page/-smart/domain/licence/SelectLicencePage.wdk

The New Zealand gateway locations:

Cromwell Starlink SES
   169.2057700 E       45.0602440 S

Wellsford Starlink SES
   174.5137550 E       36.2846540 S

[gongora]

https://mobile.twitter.com/Megaconstellati/status/1318892393270251520

🇫🇷 @Arcep authorized @SpaceX #Starlink gateways in 3 municipalities covering much of Western Europe:
- Gravelines https://t.co/hVtWulIAf5
- Villenave-d'Ornon https://t.co/SJQPUN3G2y
- Belin-Béliet https://t.co/SAbJcHfWh6

No coordinates in @anfr data yet: https://t.co/niu2tAbu5o pic.twitter.com/06K0Q1uZA4

[wannamoonbase]

https://rrf.rsm.govt.nz/smart-web/smart/page/-smart/domain/licence/SelectLicencePage.wdk

The New Zealand gateway locations:

Cromwell Starlink SES
   169.2057700 E       45.0602440 S

Wellsford Starlink SES
   174.5137550 E       36.2846540 S

New Zealand is a perfect country for Starlink.  There are so many rural off grid people and towns and only a few ground stations to cover it all.

[su27k]

Seems they have some trademark trouble at New Zealand: What’s Elon Musk’s Starlink doing in New Zealand?

NZ Intellectual Property Office records show SpaceX applied for three trademarks for use of the Starlink name in NZ in January. One application was for class 9 goods relating to commercial satellites, and the other two were for class 38 and class 42 services relating to satellite communication services.

BusinessDesk found through an Official Information Act request that all three were rejected in the same month due to similarities with trademarks held by Subaru since 2012 for its Subaru Starlink in-car technology system.

[Bananas_on_Mars]

OK, I have something for you..

TIBRO Netherlands B.V. Burgermeester Stramanweg 122 . 1101EN Amsterdam Niederlande
Reg-Nr. 19/182
has a licence in Germany as a communication servive (https://www.bundesnetzagentur.de/SharedDocs/Downloads/DE/Sachgebiete/Telekommunikation/Unternehmen_Institutionen/Anbieterpflichten/Meldepflicht/TKDiensteanbieterPDF.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&amp;v=98)

The address above is the location of Tesla, Netherlands (https://www.tesla.com/en_EU/contact)

This company has since been renamed to „Starlink Holdings Netherlands BV“

[su27k]

SpaceX Starlink service in Canada closing in on approval

Article behind paywall, comment on reddit says the author asked Elon when will Starlink get ISED approval, Elon's estimate is 2 to 3 weeks.

[gongora]

h/t to r/starlink

https://twitter.com/ISED_CA/status/1324790429947174913

[email protected] is joining the effort to help get Canadians connected to high-speed Internet!

Regulatory approval for the @SpaceXStarlink low Earth orbit satellite constellation has been granted!

and it's been updated on the approved satellites page:
https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/smt-gst.nsf/eng/sf02104.html

[su27k]

Starlink to launch in Germany before the end of the year according to SpaceX-Manager

DeepL translation from reddit:

Starlink, a subsidiary of Elon Musk's space company SpaceX, plans to bring its satellite Internet service to Germany this year. This is what SpaceX manager Hans Königsmann told WirtschaftsWoche. "If everything goes according to plan, we will launch in Germany before the end of this year," says Königsmann. In Germany, almost 20 percent of all households are not yet provided with Internet access with speeds of more than 100 Mbit per second. Starlink was launched on a trial basis in the USA a few weeks ago.

"Our mission is to bring fast Internet to remote areas of the world," says Königsmann. According to Königsmann, this will require 15 additional Starlink missions. "But we are already well positioned in the north," he says. "That is why Germany is excellently suited as a market - we already have a good connection there". The details of the fee structure for Germany have not yet been decided. "But we will orient ourselves on what the local market allows," says Königsmann.

[RedLineTrain]

SpaceX 9/21 feedback to the Indian authorities.  Apparently, current Indian rules do not contemplate Ka-band allocations for gateways.

[RedLineTrain]

Here is some late November testimony to Canada's House of Commons by SpaceX's Patricia Cooper. Even though this is focused more to a lay audience, it does give some interesting nuggets and timing. For instance, Cooper reiterates that they want to do a launch this year or early next to a polar inclination. The difference in business models between Starlink (direct to consumer) and Telesat (partnering with current service providers) is also repeatedly mentioned.

https://www.ourcommons.ca/DocumentViewer/en/43-2/INDU/meeting-4/evidence

Courtesy Reddit user u/devnvram.

[su27k]

Musk’s SpaceX to bring Starlink internet to Greece

SpaceX, the space company of high-tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, plans to make its Starlink broadband satellite internet service available in Greece in the first quarter of 2021, Kathimerini reports.

According to the report, the company has reached out to the Hellenic Telecommunications and Posts Commission (EETT) and the Digital Governance Ministry in order to secure the necessary license.

[RedLineTrain]

Cross-posting.  Today, SpaceX received landing rights in Germany.  One year license.

https://www.bundesnetzagentur.de/SharedDocs/Pressemitteilungen/DE/2020/20201218_Starlink.html?nn=265778

[donaldp]

or in English
https://www.bundesnetzagentur.de/SharedDocs/Pressemitteilungen/EN/2020/20201218_Starlink.html?nn=265778

[TorenAltair]

The corresponding document for overview
https://www.bundesnetzagentur.de/SharedDocs/Downloads/DE/Sachgebiete/Telekommunikation/Unternehmen_Institutionen/Frequenzen/SpezielleAnwendungen/Satellitenfunk/Satellitenfunknetze.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=22

[su27k]

SpaceX Starlink picks up Australian 5G mmWave spectrum

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) announced on Friday it had offered the first round of its new area-wide apparatus licences to communications providers looking for 5G millimetre wave (mmWave) spectrum.

Licences were handed out in the 26GHz and 28GHz bands to SpaceX Starlink, Telstra, Optus, Vocus, Nokia, NBN, Opticomm, MarchNet, Dreamtilt, Field Solutions Group, WorldVu (One Web), Inmarsat, Viasat, O3B/SES, and New Skies Satellites/SES.

[su27k]

Rumor on reddit that Starlink is in private beta in New Zealand:

It's in private beta here. I believe less than 10 units.

Also public invites going out in UK

UK invites are happening for real!

I've just received confirmation from an official verified source.

The first emails did have broken links but they should be fixed.

[Jon Salat]

Elon Musk’s Starlink Broadband Terminals Get Approval in U.K.

Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite broadband system has received licensing approval for its user terminals from the U.K.’s communications regulator, paving the way for the billionaire’s venture to enter another major market.

The authorization was granted in November, an Ofcom spokesman said by email on Saturday.

...

[soltasto]

Starlink is also a registered company in Italy under the name of "Starlink Italy S.R.L."

Can't link anything as there are no public links for that, but the company was registered on 15/12/2020 with the sole shareholder being "STARLINK HOLDINGS NETHERLANDS B.V." located at "AMSTERDAM, BURGEMEESTER STRAMANWEG 122".

The declared corporate purpose is "LA CONDUZIONE, LA MANUTENZIONE E LA GESTIONE DI GATEWAY COSTITUITE DA ANTENNE PARABOLICHE E LA RELATIVA FORNITURA DI SERVIZI E/O RETI DI COMUNICAZIONE ELETTRONICA VIA SATELLITE, COMPRESI I SERVIZI INTERNET VIA SATELLITE", which translates to "THE OPERATION, MAINTENANCE AND MANAGEMENT OF GATEWAYS CONSISTING OF PARABOLIC ANTENNAS AND THE RELEVANT PROVISION OF SERVICES AND / OR ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION NETWORKS VIA SATELLITE, INCLUDING INTERNET SERVICES VIA SATELLITE"

[su27k]

SpaceX submits requests to be a Starlink Internet Service Provider in Chile & Argentina

[gongora]

I really need to gather up some of the international info on Starlink.  (Unless someone else wants to do it.)

https://twitter.com/stevesong/status/1360953072906862594

Nigerian regulator grants Starlink permission to "beam their signals till November 2026 over Nigerian territory"
https://ncc.gov.ng/technical-regulation/spectrum/space-services.  (via @mikejensen)

I was under the impression that Starlink did not have any service over equatorial areas yet. Forward thinking perhaps.

https://ncc.gov.ng/technical-regulation/spectrum/space-services

   The Commission has authorized Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) Satellite Constellation for its full constellation of 4408 satellites and issued a Landing Permit with a duration of six (6) years to SpaceXs 893 satellites launched at time of application to the Commission. The satellite constellation can beam their signals till November 2026 over Nigerian territory. This Landing Permit is subject to review and extension pending SpaceXs launching of its full constellation of 4408 satellites.

[oldAtlas_Eguy]

There is coverage but not continuous. Must wait for the 1400+ total of sats for continuous coverage down to equator. But still needs the SSO sats as well which is not part of the 1400 sat group to do coverage above 53 degrees latitude. With the next two launches will have 1140 V1.0 sats on orbit and will only take 5 more launches after that to reach the magical 1400+ sat number. Which should happen by end of April. But it will take another 2 to 3 months before 1400+ sats are all operational or July 2021. Which would not be a long wait for Nigeria to have continuous coverage. A package deal that could include a matched solar/battery with the UT that has a significant excess of power to run devices like TV and other computer equipment would be an interesting package for the Nigerian market.

An interesting Note is that Nigeria may get full coverage before Canada.

[M.E.T.]

Got the email today that Starlink beta is now available in my area (Perth, Australia) on a limited basis.

To clarify, the email wording says “available to order on a limited basis” and that some orders may take up to 6 months to fulfill.

So orders have opened. Roll out may take a few months longer.

Pretty sure it’s the standard wording though.

[su27k]

Starlink rolling out in Germany and New Zealand, expanding in the UK

The Starlink team is expanding their international service this week--here’s a snapshot of where we’re headed:

Germany: launching this week in parts of western Germany and expanding in the coming weeks

United Kingdom: expanding coverage beyond southern England to include parts of Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England

New Zealand: launching in parts of the South Island and expanding in the coming weeks

You can check availability for your location on starlink.com by entering your service address. If Starlink is not yet available in your area, you can place a deposit to hold your space in line for future service. All orders are first come, first served.

(also interesting that the Starlink team is now using the reddit r/starlink to release news like this)

[su27k]

Apparently there's an attempt to stop Starlink in the France Parliament, but it was defeated:

L’Assemblée nationale balaie le « moratoire Starlink » proposé par la France Insoumise

Google Translated:

The amendment defended by La France Insoumise against Starlink was declared inadmissible in Parliament.

There will be no moratorium on Starlink in France, at least not within the framework of the bill to combat climate change and strengthen resilience in the face of its effects. The amendment carried by the seventeen members of France Insoumise was declared inadmissible by the rules of the National Assembly. It was therefore, in fact, rejected before its consideration in committee.

The purpose of the amendment was to institute a suspension of Starlink operations in France for at least a year. During this period, the aim was to conduct a national consultation to collect public opinion on this proposed high-speed satellite Internet offer. A rejection would likely have greatly complicated Starlink's plans in France.

"La France Insoumise is a democratic socialist, left-wing populist political party in France" according to Wikipedia.

[Arb]

Apparently there's an attempt to stop Starlink in the France Parliament, but it was defeated:

L’Assemblée nationale balaie le « moratoire Starlink » proposé par la France Insoumise

Google Translated:

The amendment defended by La France Insoumise against Starlink was declared inadmissible in Parliament.

There will be no moratorium on Starlink in France, at least not within the framework of the bill to combat climate change and strengthen resilience in the face of its effects. The amendment carried by the seventeen members of France Insoumise was declared inadmissible by the rules of the National Assembly. It was therefore, in fact, rejected before its consideration in committee.

The purpose of the amendment was to institute a suspension of Starlink operations in France for at least a year. During this period, the aim was to conduct a national consultation to collect public opinion on this proposed high-speed satellite Internet offer. A rejection would likely have greatly complicated Starlink's plans in France.

"La France Insoumise is a democratic socialist, left-wing populist political party in France" according to Wikipedia.

And "Insoumise" = "Rebellious" according to Google translate.

[Jon Salat]

Technically not a regulatory filing (not sure if they're publicly available in the UK), but I guess this is the most appropriate thread;

Elon Musk's Starlink inks UK deal for satellite ground infrastructure

Elon Musk has signed up telecoms mast company Arqiva to provide ground stations that will let him spread his satellite broadband service across Britain.

The SpaceX billionaire’s satellite internet service, Starlink, will use ground infrastructure provided by the Crawley headquartered company for its communications, a space industry insider said.

Arqiva has large ground station dishes across the home counties with sites at Chalfont Grove in Buckinghamshire as well as Bedfordshire, Suffolk and Hampshire. An Arqiva spokesperson declined to comment.

...

[su27k]

Facing resistance in India: Elon Musk’s Starlink Beta meets opposition from India’s industry body

It appears that Starlink is facing a challenge in India, a country expected to receive coverage from the satellite internet system sometime next year.

The opposition against Starlink was initiated by the Broadband India Forum, which has written a request to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). The forum asked the bodies to block SpaceX from pre-selling the beta version of the satellite internet service in the country.

[su27k]

Elon Musk’s SpaceX must have black ownership to launch Starlink in South Africa – ICASA

While SpaceX has already registered as a company in South Africa with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission, approval to provide Internet services via Starlink would fall to the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA).

ICASA previously told MyBroadband that it had held discussions with SpaceX, but that the company still needed to apply for an Individual Electronic Communications Network Service (I-ECNS) and Individual Electronics Communications Service (I-ECS) license to provide its satellite-based broadband Internet locally.

In addition, it would have to acquire a Radio Frequency Spectrum licence to allow for Starlink to communicate on specified frequency spectrum bands for satellite broadband services.

There is one major problem, however.

ICASA recently published new regulations which require all telecoms licensees in the country – including ISPs – to have black owners.

[octavo]

Elon Musk’s SpaceX must have black ownership to launch Starlink in South Africa – ICASA

While SpaceX has already registered as a company in South Africa with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission, approval to provide Internet services via Starlink would fall to the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA).

ICASA previously told MyBroadband that it had held discussions with SpaceX, but that the company still needed to apply for an Individual Electronic Communications Network Service (I-ECNS) and Individual Electronics Communications Service (I-ECS) license to provide its satellite-based broadband Internet locally.

In addition, it would have to acquire a Radio Frequency Spectrum licence to allow for Starlink to communicate on specified frequency spectrum bands for satellite broadband services.

There is one major problem, however.

ICASA recently published new regulations which require all telecoms licensees in the country – including ISPs – to have black owners.

It's not quite as scary as the article makes out IMO. It does require the license holder comply with Black and HDG equity, but the license holder can be a local subsidiary. It sounds like Musk has already formed the local subsidiary. I would not be surprised to find he was working on a deal to transfer a percentage of ownership in that local subsidiary to community NGO's in rural areas. It would certainly be a nice bit of PR for him.

Of course, whether it's worth the all the red tape to provide coverage to RSA is now the real question. They might just pull out entirely

[M.E.T.]

Elon Musk’s SpaceX must have black ownership to launch Starlink in South Africa – ICASA

While SpaceX has already registered as a company in South Africa with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission, approval to provide Internet services via Starlink would fall to the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA).

ICASA previously told MyBroadband that it had held discussions with SpaceX, but that the company still needed to apply for an Individual Electronic Communications Network Service (I-ECNS) and Individual Electronics Communications Service (I-ECS) license to provide its satellite-based broadband Internet locally.

In addition, it would have to acquire a Radio Frequency Spectrum licence to allow for Starlink to communicate on specified frequency spectrum bands for satellite broadband services.

There is one major problem, however.

ICASA recently published new regulations which require all telecoms licensees in the country – including ISPs – to have black owners.

Yep. South Africa has pretty extreme black ownership laws. Essentially a percentage of the company has to be given away for no value add - often to politically connected individuals.

Might be worth just leaving them out of the service entirely. South Africa actually has pretty decent internet in urban areas, and the people in rural areas generally don’t have the money for a $100/month service anyway.

So no big loss from a revenue point of view.

[octavo]

Yep. South Africa has pretty extreme black ownership laws. Essentially a percentage of the company has to be given away for no value add - often to politically connected individuals.

The legislation encourages broader ownership and there has been a lot of focus on corruption in this area, which is why giving it to a community NGO would be an astute move.

I don't disagree that it's probably not worth the hassle though.

[Nomadd]

Might be worth just leaving them out of the service entirely. South Africa actually has pretty decent internet in urban areas, and the people in rural areas generally don’t have the money for a $100/month service anyway.
So no big loss from a revenue point of view.

That's no more true than the last 50 times someone said it. A Starlink terminal doesn't have to be for one person. A $40 wifi 9db omni could easily cover a small village.
 And not everyone bases their lives on maximum revenue.

[joek]

Might be worth just leaving them out of the service entirely. South Africa actually has pretty decent internet in urban areas, and the people in rural areas generally don’t have the money for a $100/month service anyway.
So no big loss from a revenue point of view.

That's no less true than the last 50 times someone said it. A Starlink terminal doesn't have to be for one person. A $40 wifi 9db omni could easily cover a small village.
 And not everyone bases their lives on maximum revenue.

Agree.  Leave it to the locals to figure it out.  Plenty of WISP providers (and customers) in far-removed locations would likely take that $100/mo if a community of hundreds of individuals could get anything close to 1Mbs for close to $1-2/mo.  Think of a situation where there are outlying communities with little-no access.  So maybe you have a community access location (e.g., library) with reasonably high speed access (~100Mbs) which might also provide a community WISP service to down-stream locations or individuals (~1-2Mbps).  That would be a godsend to many in the world.

[RotoSequence]

Might be worth just leaving them out of the service entirely. South Africa actually has pretty decent internet in urban areas, and the people in rural areas generally don’t have the money for a $100/month service anyway.
So no big loss from a revenue point of view.

That's no less true than the last 50 times someone said it. A Starlink terminal doesn't have to be for one person. A $40 wifi 9db omni could easily cover a small village.
 And not everyone bases their lives on maximum revenue.

Starlink still has to make a buck, and as we've seen with Tesla, Elon's businesses pursue profitability fairly ruthlessly with very high costs for different options, or even the licenses to turn on stuff that's already built into the car through software. Not every Starlink customer has to have their own dish, sure, but if there aren't enough people to buy dishes, it may end up, rather literally, being more trouble than its worth for the time being.

[joek]

Starlink still has to make a buck, and as we've seen with Tesla, Elon's businesses pursue profitability fairly ruthlessly with very high costs for different options, or even the licenses to turn on stuff that's already built into the car through software. Not every Starlink customer has to have their own dish, sure, but if there aren't enough people to buy dishes, it may end up, rather literally, being more trouble than its worth for the time being.

Sure.  So let's take a few billion potential consumers and reduce by three orders of magnitude... still leaves you with a few million--and that is only those with direct access.

And do you mean by "...but if there aren't enough people to buy dishes, it may end up, rather literally, being more trouble than its worth for the time being."?

Those who want-need direct access and associated bandwidth will pay for it.  Those who do not will likely go through community-WISP providers.

[RedLineTrain]

Testing in Ireland by one of Ireland's famous entrepreneurs.  Apparently, they don't have full landing rights yet.

https://twitter.com/collision/status/1387406756880412676

[su27k]

Elon Musk seeks NCC’s approval to operate SpaceX Starlink satellite broadband in Nigeria

American space company,  Space Exploration Technologies, SpaceX, has expressed interest to bring its Starlink satellite internet into Nigeria.

The company has already entered into advanced discussions with the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, to ensure the move cascades into a successful technology transfer project.

Starlink’s Market Access Director for Africa, Ryan Goodnight along with SpaceX consultant, Levin Born paid a visit to the NCC where they expressed interest to obtain a licence to operate the satellite internet in the country.

[RedLineTrain]

Maldives Minister of Technology forced to take to Twitter to say that the government will not block Starlink after cutting a backroom deal with local ISPs to set prices and stifle competition.

https://twitter.com/anuahsa/status/1397812762592514051

Amazingly, Starlink appears to have compelling pricing there.

[su27k]

Approved in Mexico: https://www.eleconomista.com.mx/empresas/Elon-Musk-ya-tiene-el-permiso-para-vender-Internet-en-Mexico-a-traves-de-Starlink-20210623-0084.html

Translated:

The American businessman Elon Musk obtained the official permit with which he can sell satellite wireless Internet products in Mexico through the Starlink brand , which in this country is managed by the company Starlink Satellite Systems México, S. de RL de CV

This company, recently established before the tax authorities, processed the corresponding permit with the Federal Telecommunications Institute ( IFT ) and that authority gave it an enabling title known as "authorization" to send and receive satellite signals to and from foreign satellites. with coverage in Mexico.

[gongora]

https://www.delfi.lt/en/business/armonaite-starlink-lithuania-to-launch-operation-in-late-2021-or-early-2022.d?id=87537053

"The Lithuania-registered company will be able to provide satellite internet services in Lithuania at the end of this year or early next year," the minister told journalists on Tuesday night. "It's good news for Lithuanian businesses, science, consumers who need faster internet, and for the whole of Lithuania."

[su27k]

Started in Chile: Chile será el primer país de América Latina con servicios de internet satelital de Starlink

Translated:

Chile will be the first country in Latin America with Starlink satellite internet services

* The Starlink project is a constellation of satellites designed to provide high-speed, low-latency broadband internet in parts of the world previously unreachable by this technology.
* Initially, Starlink will be used for connectivity pilots in schools in the towns of Caleta Sierra (Coquimbo Region) and Sotomó (Los Lagos Region).
* The Starlink digital connectivity pilots promoted by the MTT, through SUBTEL, will improve the quality of life of thousands of people, who through this service will be able to access online classes, telemedicine services and / or electronic commerce, in addition to work from home.
SANTIAGO, JULY 5, 2021.-

Our country will add a new relevant actor in its fight to close the digital divide that affects thousands of homes. Starlink, a company owned by South African businessman Elon Musk, will begin its pioneering satellite internet operations in Chile, making the country the first in Latin America on the list of this giant of technological innovation.

Starlink arises as a project of SpaceX, an aerospace manufacturing and transportation company, with the aim of putting into orbit a constellation of satellites capable of offering high-speed and low-latency internet to all corners of the world, thus allowing, for example, to connect to land vehicles, boats, airplanes and remote locations to which providing connectivity is a challenge due to the limits of the land infrastructure.

The arrival of Starlink arises after the Ministry of Transport and Telecommunications (MTT), through the Subsecretariat of Telecommunications (SUBTEL), explored with the company the technical feasibility of conducting pilot tests of a social nature in rural and / or isolated communities with digital connectivity problems. For the development of these projects, SUBTEL delivered an experimental permit to the company for the non-commercial use of the service.

The public-private coordination will allow the arrival of satellite internet to schools in the towns of Caleta Sierra (Coquimbo Region) and Sotomó (Los Lagos Region). During this first stage (beta phase), Starlink promises a download potential that ranges from 50 to 150 Mb / s, with a latency (time it takes to send data from one point to the next) of 20 to 40 milliseconds. A sufficient offer for activities related to teleworking, entertainment and education.

To make the connection in these locations, Starlink delivered satellite kits that will allow free internet services for a year. After this time, it was agreed that the cost will be absorbed by the municipalities.

"Closing the digital divide in Chile requires innovation and that implies that we open ourselves to the implementation of new technologies that complement those already present in the country, such as fiber optic and 5G networks," said the Minister of Transport and Telecommunications, Gloria Hutt. “Sometimes our geography makes the deployment of traditional broadband networks complex. For this reason, we are proud that the Starlink company has chosen Chile as a pioneer country in Latin America to begin the deployment of its satellite internet project, providing capacity and high-speed connectivity to two locations in the country, "he added.

Meanwhile, the Undersecretary of Telecommunications, Francisco Moreno, indicated that "the start of the Starlink service in Chile will mark a before and after as regards the Government's work to reduce the existing digital gap in the country." As he indicated, “our work has yielded very concrete results and in these almost 4 years of Government we have seen the growth of Chilean households with fixed internet, going from 45% to 62% of penetration of this service. Without a doubt, these are great advances, but the goal is very ambitious, which is why today we are giving way to Starlink services as a concrete alternative to improve the quality of life of thousands of compatriots who live in extreme and / or rural locations. of the country, which do not have the opportunity to access a quality internet ”.

The arrival of Starlink means a boost to economic development for those isolated areas that have not yet achieved the benefits of a high-speed internet connection. In this sense, according to the Minister of Economy, Lucas Palacios, “through this operation, access to better connectivity of rural or geographically isolated sectors is democratized, integrating them. This has a huge impact on being able to enable different productive areas and connect thousands of compatriots who will no longer require cables to send and receive information, which is a key advance in the digital advancement process that our country is experiencing and that our government is promoting. ”.

In the opinion of the Undersecretary of Economy, Julio Pertuze, “this is a fundamental step so that each town and each community in our country has the possibility of connecting with the rest of the world. When we speak of the post-pandemic future, we cannot project it without cross-cutting connectivity that allows both productive sectors and citizens to develop wherever they are ”.

Gwynne Shotwell, president and director of operations of SpaceX, indicated that "Starlink was designed for remote communities such as Caleta Sierra and Sotomó." In this sense, he assured that "high-speed connectivity can have a transformative impact on these communities and we are eager to support these pilot programs, starting with local schools," he added.

In addition to the two locations that will start the project, Starlink and SUBTEL are making progress in adding new areas to this service, which in the future contemplates covering the entire national territory.

[su27k]

Australia wide license granted: https://web.acma.gov.au/rrl/licence_search.licence_lookup?pLICENCE_NO=11178930/2

(seems that before this Starlink was only allowed in "Low and Remote Density Areas")

[su27k]

Not sure how this will affect Starlink yet: U.K. to strengthen regulations for Starlink, OneWeb and other NGSO constellations

British telecoms regulator Ofcom is proposing rule changes that would affect Starlink, OneWeb and other satellite constellations operating in non-geostationary orbits (NGSO).

It is increasingly difficult for companies to agree on how to operate their NGSO networks without causing harmful radio interference to each other, Ofcom warned in a July 26 consultation document it issues before creating new rules.

NGSO operators are required to coordinate their networks under International Telecommunication Union (ITU) radio regulations; however, Ofcom pointed to how “in many cases” these arrangements have not yet concluded.

[Arb]

The consultation itself is at https://www.ofcom.org.uk/consultations-and-statements/category-2/non-geostationary-satellite-systems

Edit: Copy attached for posterity.

[wannamoonbase]

Australia wide license granted: https://web.acma.gov.au/rrl/licence_search.licence_lookup?pLICENCE_NO=11178930/2

(seems that before this Starlink was only allowed in "Low and Remote Density Areas")

That's huge!  Australia has so many remote areas and low population density.  Also, terrible internet.

Congrats Starlink and Australia.

[su27k]

Elon Musk's Starlink satellite internet is acquiring a license to provide blanket coverage to Britain, the Telegraph says

Elon Musk's Starlink satellite internet venture has secured a license to construct a satellite ground station on the Isle of Man, which will provide "blanket coverage" across Great Britain, the Telegraph reports.

Starlink, part of of Musk's SpaceX, has filed an application with the communications regulator for the Isle of Man to improve its broadband coverage for rural areas in northern Britain that cannot be reached by fiber broadband or 5G internet, the newspaper reported.

By transmitting from a station on the island, which is west off the coast of northern Britain, Starlink can capitalize on the island's less crowded airwaves so their signal can reach these rural broadband holes, the Telegraph said.

Elon Musk's Starlink internet venture granted Isle of Man base

A statement from the Department for Enterprise (DfE) said infrastructure was "already being commissioned on the island" and it was "excellent to see this project moving to the next stage".

The department also confirmed the company has been working with local operator BlueWave Communications.

Sue Strang of the Communications and Utilities Regulatory Authority said the extra service would most benefit those living in rural areas.

She said: "Starlink will potentially add more choice and switching options for consumers in the already competitive broadband market."

[Redclaws]

By transmitting from a station on the island, which is west off the coast of northern Britain, Starlink can capitalize on the island's less crowded airwaves so their signal can reach these rural broadband holes, the Telegraph said.

Someone at the Telegraph does not understand how Starlink works 😂

[Hick2]

Elon Musk's Starlink satellite internet is acquiring a license to provide blanket coverage to Britain, the Telegraph says

I might need to go away and check if the SES tracking station here is still up and running, as they shut down their local office last year.

Even so I can see that being the obvious place to install a ground station as the infrastructure will be in place already.

[smoliarm]

Starlink is officially licensed in Poland:
https://www.bip.uke.gov.pl/rpt/rejestr-przedsiebiorcow-telekomunikacyjnych/?p=2&page=1&numer=12990

Apparently, the licence was approved some time in April 2021:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Starlink/comments/n0kxu1/starlink_officially_licensed_in_poland/

[su27k]

(Taiwan's) Chunghwa Telecom eyeing partnership with Starlink

Chunghwa Telecom Co yesterday said it is exploring partnerships with low Earth orbit satellite service providers led by Elon Musk’s Starlink project to offer diverse services and enhance its Internet coverage beyond 5G broadband technology.

“There are several non-geostationary orbit satellite systems under development globally, with Starlink taking the lead. Chunghwa Telecom does not rule out seeking exchanges and cooperation with those international operators,” the company said in a statement.

[su27k]

Looks like some trademark issues with Starlink in Mexico: https://www.milenio.com/negocios/la-mexicana-starlink-no-se-vende-ni-a-elon-musk

The Mexican businessman José Aguirre Campos , who commands the StarGroup firm , assured that his telecommunications brand StarLink will not be sold to foreign companies, or to Elon Musk , so that the legal disputes against SpaceX will remain until the latest court resolutions .

[su27k]

https://twitter.com/nikkei/status/1436263206507491361

Google translate:

Easy to use calls and the Internet even in depopulated areas. KDDI has partnered with SpaceX, a space operator led by Elon Musk, to launch a communication service using the company's artificial satellites in Japan.#日経イブニングスクープ

https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQOUC08A5B0Y1A900C2000000/?n_cid=SNSTW005

English language version of article:

https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Telecommunication/SpaceX-and-KDDI-team-up-to-eliminate-wireless-blind-spots-in-Japan

Such satellite networks services need approval from Japan's communications ministry before operations can begin. The ministry amended rules in August that opened the doors to SpaceX launching internet services in Japan. Both SpaceX and KDDI plan to obtain licenses by the end of the year.

[soltasto]

SpaceX has started deliveries of Starlink kits in Italy. Some have already received their terminals!

[su27k]

Sanjay Bhargava joins SpaceX to serve as Starlink Country Director, India starting October

In an effort to expand its presence in India, Elon Musk run SpaceX has now appointed a top executive in the country. The leading space firm in the world has announced that Sanjay Bhargava will be joining its team as Starlink Country Director India, effective from next month.

From October 1, 2021, Sanjay Bhargava will be working with SpaceX as the Country Director for Starlink in India. Bhargava shared the update recently through a LinkedIn post. He wrote about his upcoming role in the post and further stated that he shared a common vision with Starlink to support a connectivity transformation in India, starting with the rural parts of the country.

Bhargava also mentioned that he had previously worked with Elon Musk. This was in the early 2000s when Musk came out with his digital payment platform PayPal. Bhargava was a part of the founding team of the service.

[su27k]

Starlink is now available in Czech Republic: https://www.reddit.com/r/Starlink/comments/pyrxva/starlink_is_now_available_in_czech_republic/

[su27k]

Ερχεται το δορυφορικό ίντερνετ του Ελον Μασκ στην Ελλάδα - Πότε ξεκινάει

Google Translated: Elon Musk's satellite internet is coming to Greece - When it starts

In October, the project of satellite internet in Greece will proceed , after the special licensing is required, since this technology is coming to the country for the first time.

"The proposal from EETT arrived two weeks ago, is currently being processed by the Commission and in mid-October will be issued the first Joint Ministerial Decision for the license of standard antennas to be co-signed by the Ministry of Digital Government and the Ministry of Environment" recently stated the Deputy Minister in charge of Telecommunications and the Land Registry, Theodoros Libanios .

"The aim is to have a one-time licensing, as is the case with satellite dishes for pay-TV, so that not every citizen needs to apply for a permit to establish such a connection."

[su27k]

Elon Musk says UK space rival is trying to slow satellite launches

Elon Musk’s space company has accused its taxpayer-backed rival OneWeb of seeking to slow down the launch of satellite internet services designed to fix broadband blackspots.

SpaceX has told Ofcom that the regulator’s proposals to force co-operation between competing space companies could cause unnecessary delays to its Starlink service and hold up the rollout of fast internet to isolated rural households.

[su27k]

Government authorizes Starlink, Elon Musk’s satellite internet, to operate commercially in Chile

After conducting pilot tests for several months in different areas of the country, the Government, through the Subsecretariat of Telecommunications (Subtel), reported that it authorized Starlink -Internet satellite company owned by the billionaire Elon Musk- so that I can start its commercial offer nationwide.

On Monday, Subtel completed the process that authorized the public data transmission service for five satellite ground stations, requested by the company, which will be located in Caldera, Coquimbo, San Clemente, Puerto Saavedra and Puerto Montt, infrastructure that will allow the company to deploy its satellite broadband service.

The Minister of Transport and Telecommunications, Gloria Hutt, commented that several months ago Starlink expressed its interest in conducting connectivity pilots, which have been carried out “successfully” in sectors such as Caleta Sierra and Sotomó.

[su27k]

ESA head says Europe needs to stop facilitating Elon Musk’s ambitions in space

This article has the following:

Germany has recently applied to the International Telecommunications Union, which coordinates the use of wireless frequencies for carrying data, to grant Starlink spectrum for about 40,000 satellites. Musk has already won approval for more than 30,000 satellites through US regulators.

Obviously the article is wrong about the "won approval for more than 30,000 satellites through US regulators" part. What about "Germany has recently applied to the International Telecommunications Union to grant Starlink spectrum for about 40,000 satellites" part? Another error? Or is there really a new ITU filing for Starlink from Germany?

[gongora]

ESA head says Europe needs to stop facilitating Elon Musk’s ambitions in space

This article has the following:

Germany has recently applied to the International Telecommunications Union, which coordinates the use of wireless frequencies for carrying data, to grant Starlink spectrum for about 40,000 satellites. Musk has already won approval for more than 30,000 satellites through US regulators.

Obviously the article is wrong about the "won approval for more than 30,000 satellites through US regulators" part. What about "Germany has recently applied to the International Telecommunications Union to grant Starlink spectrum for about 40,000 satellites" part? Another error? Or is there really a new ITU filing for Starlink from Germany?

I'm pretty sure both parts of that quote are wrong.

[su27k]

Or is there really a new ITU filing for Starlink from Germany?

Actually it looks like there is, go to https://www.itu.int/ITU-R/space/asreceived/Publication/AsReceived, search for "MARS", administration = D (Germany's country code), Orbit type = NGSO, you'll see 5 filings for MARS-E1/K1/K2 from September and November this year:

E1: https://www.itu.int/ITU-R/space/asreceived/Publication/DisplayPublication/32326
K1: https://www.itu.int/ITU-R/space/asreceived/Publication/DisplayPublication/34191, https://www.itu.int/ITU-R/space/asreceived/Publication/DisplayPublication/34193
K2: https://www.itu.int/ITU-R/space/asreceived/Publication/DisplayPublication/34192, https://www.itu.int/ITU-R/space/asreceived/Publication/DisplayPublication/34194


No obvious indication that MARS-E1 belongs to Starlink, but MARS-K1/K2's Explanation_Fatal_Errors_Administration.txt file has the following: "Operating entity code 174 under D in preface: STARLINK GERMANY GMBH", and the Figure 1 in "Notes by the Admin and Figures.docx" has "SpaceX" on it.

I tried to read the orbit table in the mdb, it's pretty confusing, E1 has tons of satellites, with 2 mutually exclusive configurations of 37,756 or 37,736 satellites. Some orbit planes are the same as FCC Gen2 amendment, but some are not. K1/K2 seems to repeat a few orbit planes in the E1 filing, not sure why.

[vsatman]

No obvious indication that MARS-E1 belongs to Starlink, but MARS-K1/K2's Explanation_Fatal_Errors_Administration.txt file has the following: "Operating entity code 174 under D in preface: STARLINK GERMANY GMBH", and the Figure 1 in "Notes by the Admin and Figures.docx" has "SpaceX" on it.

I tried to read the orbit table in the mdb, it's pretty confusing, E1 has tons of satellites, with 2 mutually exclusive configurations of 37,756 or 37,736 satellites. Some orbit planes are the same as FCC Gen2 amendment, but some are not. K1/K2 seems to repeat a few orbit planes in the E1 filing, not sure why.

Most likely this is an attempt to reduce the frequencies while waiting for Generation 2, which was filed with the FSS back in 2020 but got stuck there ..

[su27k]

No obvious indication that MARS-E1 belongs to Starlink, but MARS-K1/K2's Explanation_Fatal_Errors_Administration.txt file has the following: "Operating entity code 174 under D in preface: STARLINK GERMANY GMBH", and the Figure 1 in "Notes by the Admin and Figures.docx" has "SpaceX" on it.

I tried to read the orbit table in the mdb, it's pretty confusing, E1 has tons of satellites, with 2 mutually exclusive configurations of 37,756 or 37,736 satellites. Some orbit planes are the same as FCC Gen2 amendment, but some are not. K1/K2 seems to repeat a few orbit planes in the E1 filing, not sure why.

Most likely this is an attempt to reduce the frequencies while waiting for Generation 2, which was filed with the FSS back in 2020 but got stuck there ..

Could you clarify what you mean by "reduce the frequencies"?

[vsatman]

Could you clarify what you mean by "reduce the frequencies"?

Sorry - it is my mistake  durink writing...

Correct  is " make a reservation" for frequencies on this orbital planes...

[su27k]

https://twitter.com/HH141/status/1511389000476540928

The “Conseil d'Etat”, French highest administrative court has decided to cancel Starlink authorization (right to use frequencies in France) because the French regulator (ARCEP) has not made a public consultation before approving Starlink licence in France.

The article: https://www.bfmtv.com/tech/internet-par-satellites-starlink-perd-ses-autorisations-de-frequence-en-france_AD-202204050499.html

Not sure what's going here, the reason quoted in the article doesn't make much sense:

The Council of State criticizes Arcep for not having carried out "a public consultation" before granting this green light, even though this decision was "likely to have a significant impact on the supply market access to high-speed internet, and to affect users".

The decision thus gives right to the arguments of the two applicants, the environmental associations Priartem and Agir pour l'environnement.

[Zed_Noir]

https://twitter.com/HH141/status/1511389000476540928

The “Conseil d'Etat”, French highest administrative court has decided to cancel Starlink authorization (right to use frequencies in France) because the French regulator (ARCEP) has not made a public consultation before approving Starlink licence in France.

The article: https://www.bfmtv.com/tech/internet-par-satellites-starlink-perd-ses-autorisations-de-frequence-en-france_AD-202204050499.html

Not sure what's going here, the reason quoted in the article doesn't make much sense:

The Council of State criticizes Arcep for not having carried out "a public consultation" before granting this green light, even though this decision was "likely to have a significant impact on the supply market access to high-speed internet, and to affect users".

The decision thus gives right to the arguments of the two applicants, the environmental associations Priartem and Agir pour l'environnement.

There is a Teslarati news article on this issue.
"https://www.teslarati.com/elon-musk-starlink-blocked-environmental-groups-france/"

One of the groups that took the legal action stated:

....hoping Arcep would not just go through a public consultation now for sheer compliance but “truly carry out an economic and environmental evaluation” of the satellite internet service.

....also noted that Elon Musk’s Starlink satellites are a nuisance for people who would like to observe the skies.

It looks a lot like the legal hassles that Tesla gone through getting their Gigafactory opened in Germany with supposedly environmental groups nit-picking everything in court.

Also like in Germany the source of the funding for the two French groups are murky. Possibly some entity in the French space launch sector that got steam-rolled by SpaceX. Or possibly the local telecoms putting up hurdles to new competitors. Oh, didn't Arianespace just got a fat contract from Starlink competitor Kuiper Project to launch comsats.

It is really idiotic with the second quote. Stopping Starlink from operating in France will not making the comsats go away from the night sky. All it does is to deprived French people in areas with poor internet connectivity from getting broadband.

[AC in NC]

Not sure what's going here, the reason quoted in the article doesn't make much sense:

The Council of State criticizes Arcep for not having carried out "a public consultation" before granting this green light, even though this decision was "likely to have a significant impact on the supply market access to high-speed internet, and to affect users".

The decision thus gives right to the arguments of the two applicants, the environmental associations Priartem and Agir pour l'environnement.

Makes perfect sense.  Plaintiffs assert the process wasn't followed.  The court agreed.  Court may be right, they may be wrong but it all makes perfect sense either way.

[su27k]

Not sure what's going here, the reason quoted in the article doesn't make much sense:

The Council of State criticizes Arcep for not having carried out "a public consultation" before granting this green light, even though this decision was "likely to have a significant impact on the supply market access to high-speed internet, and to affect users".

The decision thus gives right to the arguments of the two applicants, the environmental associations Priartem and Agir pour l'environnement.

Makes perfect sense.  Plaintiffs assert the process wasn't followed.  The court agreed.  Court may be right, they may be wrong but it all makes perfect sense either way.

I don't know what is the correct process, but it sounds like public consultation is not always required, it's only required for those with "significant impact". The court's claim that the "significant impact" is for "the supply market access to high-speed internet, and to affect users", this is the part doesn't make sense, more supply of high-speed internet is obviously a good thing, why does the French gov needs a public consultation to tell them that? That's like saying we need public consultation if farmers are going to harvest more wheat or if Intel is going to produce more chips than planned.

[AC in NC]

I don't know what is the correct process, but it sounds like public consultation is not always required, it's only required for those with "significant impact". The court's claim that the "significant impact" is for "the supply market access to high-speed internet, and to affect users", this is the part doesn't make sense, more supply of high-speed internet is obviously a good thing, why does the French gov needs a public consultation to tell them that? That's like saying we need public consultation if farmers are going to harvest more wheat or if Intel is going to produce more chips than planned.

You mean like when the US Supreme Court unanimously held in Wickard v. Filburn that 6500kg of above-quota wheat produced for private consumption on his own farm was an significant interstate commerce issue?

It says significant impact, not significant negative impact.  It could be anything that they deem important.  It's government which is never worth spending much effort trying to hold them to sensible decisions.

It could be as simple as current Satellite offerings being licensed for installation and deployment by authorized local resellers and Starlink's direct-to-consumer model upending the domestic employment related to those resellers.

[r8ix]

I don't know what is the correct process, but it sounds like public consultation is not always required, it's only required for those with "significant impact". The court's claim that the "significant impact" is for "the supply market access to high-speed internet, and to affect users", this is the part doesn't make sense, more supply of high-speed internet is obviously a good thing, why does the French gov needs a public consultation to tell them that? That's like saying we need public consultation if farmers are going to harvest more wheat or if Intel is going to produce more chips than planned.

You mean like when the US Supreme Court unanimously held in Wickard v. Filburn that 6500kg of above-quota wheat produced for private consumption on his own farm was an significant interstate commerce issue?

It says significant impact, not significant negative impact.  It could be anything that they deem important.  It's government which is never worth spending much effort trying to hold them to sensible decisions.

It could be as simple as current Satellite offerings being licensed for installation and deployment by authorized local resellers and Starlink's direct-to-consumer model upending the domestic employment related to those resellers.

Generally considered among the worst USSC decisions ever…

[su27k]

French telecom regulator, forced by administrative court ruling, opens public comment on SpaceX Starlink

UPDATE April 8: French telecom regulator Arcep, its previous approval of SpaceX Starlink frequency use in France rejected by an administrative tribunal because Arcep bypassed a public consultation, has now opened Starlink spectrum request for public comment until May 9.

After that, Arcep will either reconfirm its earlier decision to allow Starlink to operate on French territory, or issue a new ruling based on the public comment.

In an April 8 statement, Arcep said that it had issued its approval for Starlink in February 2021 without opening the subject for public reaction because it . . .

[Arb]

Continuing the quote from the Arcep press release (https://en.arcep.fr/news/press-releases/view/n/frequencies-starlink-080422.html)

...it would neither have a significant impact on the market nor affect end users’ interests. The frequency band in question indeed enables the cohabitation of multiple satellite industry players, and does therefore not create a situation of spectrum scarcity.

Moreover, the day the authorisation was awarded, other satellite superfast broadband plans were already available, whose users number in the tens of thousands, amongst the more than 17 million superfast broadband subscribers in France.

For all of these reasons, the Authority considered that it was not necessary to hold a public consultation with regard to the CPCE criteria.

To comply with the Conseil d’Etat decision, Arcep is holding a public consultation to obtain feedback from stakeholders on the award of frequencies to the firm Starlink

Stakeholders have until 6 pm on Monday, 9 May to forward their observations to Arcep. These contributions will then be made public as quickly as possible, along with the new Arcep decision, if applicable.

[su27k]

Continuing the quote from the Arcep press release (https://en.arcep.fr/news/press-releases/view/n/frequencies-starlink-080422.html)

...it would neither have a significant impact on the market nor affect end users’ interests. The frequency band in question indeed enables the cohabitation of multiple satellite industry players, and does therefore not create a situation of spectrum scarcity.

Moreover, the day the authorisation was awarded, other satellite superfast broadband plans were already available, whose users number in the tens of thousands, amongst the more than 17 million superfast broadband subscribers in France.

For all of these reasons, the Authority considered that it was not necessary to hold a public consultation with regard to the CPCE criteria.

As expected, Arcep is pretty reasonable here, the French court is out of its mind. And what does all this drama accomplish except an one month delay of Starlink service in France? Just another pointless waste of time and resources caused by so called "environmentalists".

[su27k]

Or is there really a new ITU filing for Starlink from Germany?

Actually it looks like there is, go to https://www.itu.int/ITU-R/space/asreceived/Publication/AsReceived, search for "MARS", administration = D (Germany's country code), Orbit type = NGSO, you'll see 5 filings for MARS-E1/K1/K2 from September and November this year

https://twitter.com/pbdes/status/1528714084912439296

Forever busy: @SpaceX Starlink's German subsidiary files 2 new satellite constellations with @ITU, in Ku- & Ka-band. Mars-K3: 3,192 sats, 86 planes at 522.5 & 540 km. Mars-K4: 2,992 sats, 132 planes at 522.5, 540, 560 & 570 km. Germany's @bnetza becoming a hub for NGSO filings.

[su27k]

https://twitter.com/pbdes/status/1533825536044290048

French regulator @Arcep OKs @spaceX Starlink after getting an earful from @Eutelsat @CNES @orange @InmarsatGlobal @Viasat; Eutelsat says it's asking @ITU to review Starlink in light of GEO-interference study. FCC @Ofcom. https://bit.ly/3mkaZ7X

[su27k]

Reddit user feral_engineer found this diagram in Starlink's filing with France regulator Arcep, in an attachment in Arcep's 2nd Starlink approval announcement. The diagram shows 100Gbps+ ISL between presumably Gen1 Starlink (since it says the ISL will be globally operational in 2023). It also shows 100Gbps link between PoP and Gateway.

[su27k]

UK mulls Starlink expansion plan under new NGSO regulations

The United Kingdom launched a public consultation June 21 under a recently strengthened licensing regime to consider Starlink’s expansion plans.

SpaceX is seeking to deploy six more gateways in England to meet user demand and improve network resiliency for its non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) broadband constellation.

Starlink already has three gateways across the British Isles, which were approved before Ofcom updated NGSO regulations in December to add new checks on interference and competition risks.

[hkultala]

Not sure if this is correct thread for this, but few questions:

According to international laws/telecommunications agreements,
1) is it allowed to transmit/broadcast from satellites at LEO at radio frequency over countries that do not want to allow it, or is it always legal as long as the satellite is high enough or/and has license from ITU?
2) ... even when the transmission is not broadcast but directed towards the country not wanting the signal?

Practically my point is that if somebody wants to use Starlink in a country that does not want it, can the government or that country only ban using the terminals inside the country, or can they also demand that Starlink does not transmit to terminals in their country?

[su27k]

The questions above now have more significance given this exchange:

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1571988764947320832

I'm sure you won't answer it Mr Musk, but is it technically possible to provide Starlink to Iranian people? It could be a game changer for the future.

Starlink will ask for an exemption to Iranian sanctions in this regard

Could you do the same for other countries under a dictatorship like Cuba for example? You will save so many lives 🙏🏻

Ok

[RedLineTrain]

U.S. Treasury says some satellite internet equipment can be exported to Iran

The Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has a longstanding license that "authorizes certain exports to Iran of hardware, software, and services related to communications over the internet, including certain consumer-grade Internet connectivity services and residential consumer satellite terminals authorized under General License D-1," a department spokesperson said in a statement.

"For any exports not covered by existing authorizations, OFAC welcomes applications for specific licenses to authorize activities supporting internet freedom in Iran," the statement added.

https://www.reuters.com/technology/us-treasury-says-some-satellite-internet-equipment-can-be-exported-iran-2022-09-20/

[su27k]

UK grants Starlink and Telesat NGSO licenses

The United Kingdom gave SpaceX permission Nov. 10 to expand its Starlink satellite broadband network in the country, while also granting a license to Telesat for a competing constellation bound for non-geostationary orbit (NGSO).

SpaceX got approval from British regulator Ofcom to increase the number of NGSO gateways in the U.K. from three to nine, enabling Starlink to add more capacity and improve network redundancy in the country.

[su27k]

https://twitter.com/Megaconstellati/status/1601331494357651456

[email protected] filed with @FCC for 2,016 Starlink sats to provide LTE service using @TMobile PCS band but underlying @ITU filings "MARS-ULS" & "MARS-VLS" are for 29,998 sats, 19,440 in VLEO (340-360km), includes nearly all LTE bands.
1⃣https://itu.int/ITU-R/space/asreceived/Publication/DisplayPublication/42266
2⃣https://itu.int/ITU-R/space/asreceived/Publication/DisplayPublication/42265

As with previous MARS constellation ITU filings, this is filed via Germany by Starlink's German subsidiary.