Space is getting a new trade association, this time focused on representing NGSO satellite systems.
Amazon, Globalstar, Iridium, and Canada’s Telesat joined together to establish the SpaceConnect Association, which was announced this morning. As the only trade association for NGSO operators, SpaceConnect will engage with international institutions, governments, and industry stakeholders to promote a competitive, multi-provider market as well as global access.
David Redl, former head of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, will serve as the group’s executive director. Julie Kearney, the first chief of the FCC’s Space Bureau, will join as general counsel.
“It is worth noting that [NGSOs are] one of the few areas in our telecommunications sphere that is rapidly growing—and actually growing not only in size and scope, but in influence in American society and influence around the globe,” Redl said in a press briefing.
Signal interference: SpaceConnect was born because NGSO operators saw a gap in current trade associations. The companies wanted to be able to advocate for themselves when interests diverged from geostationary operators (GSOs).
One driving force behind the association was the debate over equivalent power-flux density limits (EPFD), in which NGSO and GSO companies debated power limits designed to avoid interference with GEO signals. In April, the FCC replaced the legacy rules with a performance-based framework.
Other issues that could be on the agenda for the group:
- WRC-27: The 2027 World Radiocommunication Conference will bring spectrum debates to a global stage, requiring extensive pre-coordination with the ITU through regional bodies.
- EU Space Act: The group plans on advocating in Brussels, Belgium to ensure that the EU Space Act does not prevent non-European companies from fully participating in EU markets.
- D2D spectrum: Access to the spectrum bands necessary for D2D is paramount for several of the companies in the association, including being a driving force behind the ongoing Amazon acquisition of Globalstar.
Who’s not here: While SpaceConnect features several of the industry’s leading NGSO operators, there is one omnipresent member who is notably absent: SpaceX.
“As a trade association, you represent a segment of the market,” said Redl. “[SpaceX is] certainly a big player in the segment, but they’re by no means the only player in the segment.”
Other missing players? Non-communications NGSO capabilities, such as EO. Redl indicated that the group does not intend to limit itself solely to comms.
“There are lots of issues that need to be addressed at the broadest level—like sustainable and orbital stewardship, and advancing open markets,” said Redl. “We would welcome anyone who’s willing to get on board with our policy priorities.”
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