Convergencia Research, Consultoría especializada en Latinoamérica y Caribe
Wednesday, August 30, 2017

Satellites Map in Latin America 2017

The satellite will guarantee 5G backhaul but with more orbital resources and spectrum

With an annual demand that grows between 20% and 50% according to the type of service, and a scenario that promises at least another 2,000 satellites in the next decade, the satellite segment goes through a very different time from that whicn characterized it as a conservative industry. 

5G architecture will require a large backhaul that the satellite industry will be able to provide. And the explosion of low-orbit artifacts, operating with a latency of less than 150 milliseconds, allows provision of services with a quality similar to that offered by optical fiber.

The scenario inevitably leads to the updating of spectrum demands. The industry is already preparing its agenda for the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-19) following the failure of the previous WRC-15 to solve disputes between mobile and satellite operators as regards bands, especially on C band (3.4-3.7 GHz). 

ITU-R has at least 12.25 GHz of spectrum under study in different bands for the so-called High Altitude Platforms (HAP) and Non-Geostationary satellites (NGSO). And a proposal is being considered to allocate a portion of the V band (between 30 GHz and 40 GHz) to the NGSOs. 

The Ka band is the most likely spectrum for operators to expand their existing satellite fleet, and it is also the frequency at which new operators entering the satellite market will deploy their networks. It is estimated that by 2020, more than 60% of the satellite capacity will be supplied in Ka band.

Currently, the NGSO system of O3b arrives with benefits on the Ka band in the Americas. But in the short term, Telesat, Viasat, Space Norway, Audacy Corporation and other companies are evaluating the implementation of new NGSO systems to provide Ka band services.

Contrary to what was discussed in previous editions, the sector acknowledges the context changes in the regional policy. Both Brazil's Telebras and Argentina's Arsat took a turn on the management of their state projects, by looking for private partners and introducing a change in the business focus, oriented towards profitability rather than to guaranteeing universal broadband service coverage.

In addition, expectations grow in Argentina where the new open skies policy allowed the landing of a dozen new satellites and the merger of Cablevisión and Telecom could accelerate, in return, the entrance of Telefónica, Claro and Telecom itself to the DTH market of that country in which so far only DirecTV gives the service.

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