Original article ISPreview UK:Read More
Ofcom has today confirmed that they will give satellite broadband and navigation operators access to harness more radio spectrum on ships and aircraft. In addition, they’re also opening up more Q/V band spectrum to help similar operators serve gateways in urban ‘high density’ areas with extra capacity to meet demands.
We’ll start with the UK regulator’s decision to make more spectrum available for Earth Stations in Motion (ESIM) uplink, aligned with the ITU Radio Regulations. ESIMs – not to be confused with eSIMs on mobile networks (totally different thing) – are terrestrial components of satellite communication systems, designed to provide high-speed broadband connectivity to users on the move (i.e. aircraft and ships at sea, but also some land vehicles).
Increasingly, ESIMs are playing a significant role in connectivity for ships and aircraft for broadband and navigation aids, as recognised by both Ofcom and the ITU. As such more spectrum is now being made available to these services, which should help to improve service speeds and network resilience.