The Thai National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has recently proposed a draft regulation titled 'Criteria for Authorisation to Use Frequency Bands for Land, Aeronautical, and Maritime Earth Stations in FSS Services'. The regulation specifically targets the operation of Earth Stations in Motion (ESIMs), which include land-based stations on vehicles, aeronautical stations on aircraft, and maritime stations on ships and offshore platforms.
It defines dedicated frequency bands for both geostationary (GSO) and non-geostationary (NGSO) satellites, aligning closely with international best practices and recommendations from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The primary objective of this draft is to streamline the process for using specific radio frequencies by removing the need for individual frequency allocation for each ESIM deployment.
That approach aims to simplify and accelerate the rollout of high-speed satellite internet services for mobile users across various sectors, thus promoting innovation and economic development by facilitating faster and broader adoption of advanced satellite communications. Overall, the NBTC's initiative underscores the critical importance for regulators worldwide to continually update their spectrum management frameworks.
Why does it matter?
In a rapidly evolving technological landscape, outdated or rigid regulations can obstruct innovation and economic growth. Effective spectrum management must strike a balance between preventing harmful interference and supporting the deployment of cutting-edge communication technologies like satellite-based internet services.
