GSMA Publish Satellite Regulatory Playbook for Mobile and Broadband Services

The GSMA, which represents over a thousand mobile operators and related businesses in the UK and across the world, has published its new Satellite Regulatory Playbook, which is said to be a practical guide designed to help policymakers develop “clear, consistent and future-ready” policies for the rapidly evolving satellite connectivity sector (especially when used for 4G / 5G mobile broadband).

Readers in the UK will already be aware that mobile operator O2 (Virgin Media) recently launched their new Direct-to-Device (D2D) based O2 Satellite service (here), which for just £3 extra per month enables normal Smartphones to connect to their mobile network via Starlink’s satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). Vodafone and AST Space Mobile also have similar plans, albeit using different satellites.

Suffice to say that LEO based satellite networks are rapidly expanding and can often be harnessed to complement terrestrial mobile and fixed broadband networks. The new Satellite Regulatory Playbook is intended to support this by providing governments with a structured framework to “modernise satellite regulation” in ways that they say “support societal needs, protect consumers, and encourage investment in the next generation of communications networks“.

The focus here seems to be on support technology-neutral regulation while promoting greater consistency in regulatory outcomes across markets. Ofcom is arguably already way ahead of this in the UK, although the same can’t always be said for other countries where regulation has yet to catch-up. But the Playbook does not prescribe a one-size-fits-all model and instead fosters a flexible framework that can be tailored to different needs.

Michaela Angonius, Head of Policy & Regulation at the GSMA, said:

“As satellite connectivity becomes an increasingly important part of the global communications landscape, policymakers have an opportunity to create regulatory frameworks that are fit for the future. The Satellite Regulatory Playbook gives policymakers practical guidance to create frameworks that protect people, ensure law enforcement can always do their job, attract investment into the whole communications sector and keep pace with innovation.

Connectivity is not a choice between terrestrial and satellite networks. Meeting the needs of citizens, businesses and governments requires a diverse and complementary connectivity ecosystem. Regulation should therefore be technology-neutral and focused on delivering consistent outcomes for consumers and society, regardless of how services are provided.”

Naturally this is an industry-centric document and so you’re not going to see much in the way of counter-arguments, such as with respect to the growing challenge of managing so many satellites in orbit (risk of collisions etc.), including their increasingly negative impacts upon vital observational sciences (e.g. radio and observational astronomy, weather tracking etc.).

The Playbook instead identifies eight key regulatory pillars that policymakers should consider when developing or modernising frameworks for satellite services:

• Local establishment rules
• National security
• Consumer protection and operational measures
• Infrastructure and facility requirements
• End-user terminal deployment
• Fiscal considerations
• Emergency services and public safety
• Enforcement