Page 62 - SAMENA Trends - March-April 2025

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

ITU and ESA Agree on Optimizing Satellite Communications

The International Telecommunication
Union (ITU) and the European Space Agency
(ESA) have announced a collaborative
effort to improve mitigation measures
against harmful interference in satellite
systems. The joint initiative, reflecting
United Nations objectives under the 2030
Agenda for Sustainable Development, aims
to ensure the sustainable and efficient use
of limited space-based communication
resources. Both organizations recognize
growing complexities in managing finite
spectrum and orbital resources. An
agreement signed on 4 March in Barcelona,
Spain, formalizes their plans for closer
cooperation on key issues for global digital
communications.
Under the agreement, ITU and ESA will
work together on:
• Sustainable and efficient spectrum use:
Ensuring that radio frequency spectrum
for satellite systems is utilized in a
responsible and effective manner.
• Development of space-based monitoring Preserving radio waves for all towards establishing good practices for its
technologies: Exploring and potentially ITU, as the UN specialized agency responsible use for the benefit of society
developing advanced technologies for for information and communication and businesses.”
monitoring the use of radio frequencies technologies, has long been at the A step towards a sustainable digital future
to identify and geolocate sources of forefront of coordination among countries By combining their expertise and resources,
harmful interference. and regions on radio frequencies and ITU and ESA could set a precedent for
• Exchange of information and expertise: satellite orbits worldwide. ITU Resolution enhanced cooperation in the field of satellite
Facilitating knowledge-sharing between 186 (Rev. Bucharest, 2022) emphasizes communications. “The shared commitment
the two organizations to enhance space the importance of transparency and to responsible spectrum management
communication systems and regulatory confidence-building in outer space and technological innovation marks a
frameworks. activities. ESA, an intergovernmental significant step toward a sustainable digital
Space-based communication technologies organization established in 1975, future for everyone,” said Mr Maniewicz.
are increasingly crucial for global supports space research and technology “This initiative underscores the importance
connectivity, scientific research, and development for peaceful and scientific of international collaboration in addressing
emergency response systems. At the purposes. Together, ITU and ESA aim to the challenges and opportunities presented
same time, growing numbers of satellites strengthen international efforts in satellite by space technologies.” Maniewicz
and increasing risks of signal interference monitoring and interference mitigation, and Jaffart signed for their respective
necessitate innovative, increasingly ensuring reliable and sustainable access organizations at the Mobile World
complex, and highly coordinated spectrum to satellite communication services Congress (MWC2025 Barcelona). As
management solutions. “Innovation worldwide. “Promoting the responsible the demand for satellite-based services
and regulations are key to facilitate use of spectrum and preserving it from continues to grow, partnerships like this will
and preserve access to spectrum- interferences is key to ensure the viability help maintain the integrity and accessibility
orbit resources free from harmful of our operators and ultimately the service of global communication networks. ITU
interference,” said Mario Maniewicz, delivered to their customers,” said Laurent and ESA have reaffirmed their dedication
Director of ITU Radiocommunications Jaffart, ESA’s Director of Connectivity and to a future where space technologies
Bureau. “This agreement is the first Secure Communications. “Together with contribute positively to societal progress
step towards a series of joint ESA-ITU ITU, we will promote the importance of and sustainable development.
efforts to ensure sustainability of space ensuring the sustainability of this limited
radiocommunications systems.” and valuable resource and will collaborate

62 MARCH-APRIL 2025