ITU International Telecommunication Union : Small Satellite Regulatory Cooperation Strengthened in the Americas

ITU's SmallSat Symposium and Workshop enabled satellite policy-makers, regulators, manufacturers, operators and academia to strengthen cooperation and partnerships among the small satellite projects and services community in the Americas region.

The Symposium was organized by ITU in cooperation with the University of Chile and with the support of Chile's sub-secretariat for Telecommunications (SUBTEL), and was opened by Rodrigo Ramirez, Sub-secretary of SUBTEL, and attended by 80 participants representing 22 countries, mostly from the Americas region.

The Symposium addressed the results of the World Radiocommunication Conference 2015 (WRC-15) on the 'Regulatory aspects for nano- and picosatellites i.e. WRC-15 conclusion that no modifications were needed to the Radio Regulations for notifying satellite networks in order to facilitate the deployment and operation of nanosatellites and picosatellites and adoption ofResolution 659 (WRC‑15), requesting 'studies to accommodate requirements in the space operation service for non-geostationary satellites with short duration missions.' It includes an invitation to ITU's Radiocommunication Sector to study the spectrum requirements for telemetry, tracking and command in the space operation service for the growing number of non-GSO satellites with short duration missions.

ITU SmallSat-2016 concluded with a one-day workshop for participants to familiarize themselves with the online tools necessary for searching and querying the ITU Space Master International Frequency Register (MIFR), the Space Networks List (SNL) and the Space Networks System (SNS), the use of ITU software for submission and validation of small satellite network filings to ITU and submission of comments on ITU publications in the BR International Frequency Information Circulars (Space Services) (BR IFIC), and rights and obligations in cases of harmful interference to satellite networks recorded in the MIFR.

The ITU Symposium and Workshop on small satellite regulation and communication systems met in Santiago, Chile, from 7 - 9 November 2016 with the participation of the small satellite user community from the Americas region, including national administrations, ITU-R Sector Members, Associates and Academia members, as well as the satellite communications industry.