1. Promoting Investment in Mobile Satellite Services
Olga Madruga-Forti
Vice President, Legal and Regulatory
Iridium Satellite LLC

2. Satellite Connectivity Plays Essential Role in Achieving WSIS Targets by 2015
Targets include Connecting:
Villages with ICTs and establish community access points
Universities, colleges, secondary schools and primary schools with ICTs
Scientific and research centers with ICTs
Public libraries, cultural centers, museums, post offices and archives with ICTs
Health centers and hospitals with ICTs
All local and central government departments and establish websites and addresses

3. Satellite Connectivity is Critical in Times of Disasters and Emergencies
Always available even though terrestrial infrastructure is damaged, destroyed or overloaded
Interconnect widely distributed networks during times of disasters
Provide interoperability between disparate systems and networks.
Can warn of impending disasters
Uniquely appropriate for first responders

4. Critical Role of Regulator
Commercial investment is based on analysis of the opportunity, the costs involved and legal possibilities and requirements. There are three key roles of the regulator.
1. POLICY. Regulators create opportunities and inform the public. Policies should exist, be transparent and readily identifiable.
2. COSTS. Regulators have a significant role in determining the cost of providing service. Spectrum fees, and all local requirements sum up by country to affect feasibility. The higher the cost, the less likely an investment will occur, particularly where market for services is small
3. ADJUDICATION. Regulators also affect timing and rollout in adjudicating applications and authorizations.
Key is promoting competition, transparency in regulatory process, light-handed regulation where possible

5. Iridium Provides Global Coverage
Constellation of 66 Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites
6 planes of 11 satellites
Polar orbits provide at 780 km altitude
100% global coverage
Inter-satellite links are key differentiator
Multiple spares in orbit
Mission Orbit at
780 km (485 mi)
(66 Satellites)
Storage Orbit 5 5

6. Barriers to Satellite Connectivity
Service Barriers
No policy.
Approval required for satellite system in every country, not just the distributors
High application fees, licensing fees, infrastructure requirements
Lengthy approval process, local incorporation requirements
Equipment Barriers
Difficulty in obtaining type approval.
Absence of coordination between different parts of the government (e.g., customs and the regulatory authority)
Results??
Satellites will bypass the market.
Users left unserved.

7. Facilitating Market Access and Investment
Light-touch regulation – “Open Skies” policy
Minimum necessary to achieve government objectives of protecting public safety and managing scarce resources
Simplified application process for foreign satellite systems
Focus on the service provider (distributor) and not on infrastructure
Regulations should be technology neutral
Accommodate the maximum number of satellite systems possible
Adopt application fees and annual fees that reflect the actual cost of regulation
Rely on international coordination process at ITU
If satellite is operational, it is coordinated
Blanket licensing of terminals and other terrestrial equipment

8. International and Regional Efforts to Facilitate Investment
GMPCS MOU
Blanket or class licensing for handsets, mutual recognition of type approval
Elimination or reduction of customs requirements for handsets
Allow MSS subscribers to carry and use their handsets in-country
Tampere Convention
Facilitate provision of prompt communications assistance during times of disaster and emergencies
Covers both installation and operation of communications systems
Addresses regulatory barriers in advance
Licensing
Use of frequencies and equipment
Import of equipment
Movement of personnel

9. Regional Efforts European Union
Granted a pan-European license for S-band
Eliminated individual country type approvals of satellite and other telecom terminals
Introduced harmonized equipment standards
CITEL Recommendation 20 (VIII-06)
Consider the adoption of procedures that facilitate the free circulation and implementation of GMPCS satellite system terminals for when Administrations consider them needed
Notify the CITEL Exec Secretary of authorized systems and terminals, including contact points for posting on CITEL website .

10. Country-Specific Examples of Light-Touch Regulation
Satellite system does not require license
Focus on distributor of service
No limits on number of licensees or foreign ownership.
Observe ITU coordination of frequencies.
Singapore
Service-based Operator License
No application fee
Annual fee of US$3,384
Uganda
Public Service Provider License
Application fee – US$2,500
Annual fee – US$10,000 plus 1% levy on gross annual revenue in country
Uruguay
Low fees, which are transparent and identifiable
Speedy adjudication.

11. Conclusions
To promote investment in satellite services, regulators should adopt a “light touch”
Eliminate unnecessary regulation
Streamline regulations for satellite services
Regulators should work through regional and multilateral fora to harmonize regulations and standardize licensing requirements
Regulators should coordinate with other government agencies to promote ease of entry and reduced costs for satellite terminals and other necessary equipment