The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) is having a hard time getting some of its member states to observe its regulations. Two problems are paramount: The first is the regulation of so-called ‘space debris’ whether dying satellites or collision avoidance obligations. The second concerns the deliberate jamming of certain TV signals which includes the rules governing ground-based terminals which are not authorised by a national authority.

The unauthorised location of terminals, such as SpaceX’s Starlink equipment in – for example – Iran, which does not permit Starlink to operate, and the ITU’s pressure on SpaceX’s licensing authorities (the US and Norway) to lean on SpaceX to get the Iran connections stopped. Iran has reportedly been complaining to the ITU about SpaceX for some two years.

The other ITU headache, noted by Space Intel Report (SIR), concerns the French and Swedish governments and Russia, and Russia’s deliberate jamming and interference of wholly allowed transmissions from Ukraine on Eutelsat and SES satellites.

“In both cases, it would be simple for the sponsoring governments to stop the offending behaviour. But nothing has moved on either issue despite months of effort at the ITU, and there’s no indication of any near-term solution,” stated SIR.

In November 2024, in a statement, the ITU’s usually influential Radio Regulations Board, in a statement grumbled and said: “[We] express regret that [the US and Norway’s] responses had not focused on solutions, and expressed grave concern at the complete lack of progress.”

“[…] once unauthorised transmissions were reported in a specific territory, there was an obligation for the satellite operator to act, to the extent possible, to remedy the situation,” the RRB added. This obligation “should not be conditional on the ability of [Iran] to provide information on terminals operating without authorisation.”

The US had earlier asked the ITU that Iran should provide a list of the SpaceX Starlink locations. Given that they are generally ‘secret’ installs, this would be a near-impossible request, and echoes the position in nations 20 years ago such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar over ordinary satellite dishes and receivers.

Other posts by Chris Forrester:

1. SES and Eutelsat possibly in line for C-band $bn bonus
2. Consultant: “European satellite mergers are failing”
3. Ligado attempts to unravel Inmarsat L-band agreement
4. SpaceX complains over South Africa investment rules
5. Vodafone, AST test video call game changer
6. Eutelsat shares hit all time low
7. SpaceX valued at $350bn
8. Sky New Zealand suffering satellite problems
9. Analyst: Space industry worth $1.8tn by 2035

Categories: Blogs, Inside Satellite, Policy, Regulation, Satellite

Tags: ITU, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, spacex