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Strengthening
Access to Communications
Policy
& Regulatory Guidelines for Satellite Services
By
David Hartshorn,
GLOBAL VSAT FORUM
A close examination of this edition of the Online
Journal of Space Communications highlights the fact
that the global satellite industry’s dynamism
- its vital signs - stand in stark contrast to the
performance of other telecom sectors: On balance,
enterprise-sector satellite service and system sales
are recording positive growth in selected markets.
Predictably, there are notable exceptions. But at
the other extreme there have been notable successes.
A GVF consultant Member recorded that more than 10%
of all broadband traffic is now provided via satellite.
One GVF manufacturer Member reported that its revenues
increased by 50 percent in the past year, much of
which was attributable to demand for satellite broadband
systems. And a GVF carrier Member said demand for
broadband services – in this case 512- Kbps
– 2 Mbps - generated satellite-based revenue
gains of 40% during the past year, a growth rate that
was a repeat of 2002.
Is this to suggest that the global satellite communications
industry has a clean bill of health? Certainly not.
The economic times are tough. And the industry’s
most chronic ailments – regulatory barriers
and insufficient awareness of the advantages afforded
by satellite services – remain to be fully addressed.
That’s why, in spite of recent economic challenges,
the industry’s commitment to and participation
in the GVF has never been stronger. Members worldwide
are using the association as a cure, a means of not
only elevating their promotional profile, but also
facilitating expanded access to markets and cutting
costs through improved regulations.
To continue the medical analogy, GVF medicine is being
applied worldwide… sometimes in strong doses.
The most recent example is the accompanying document,
a regulatory and policy guideline released this month
by the GVF to assist governments on a national, regional
and global level to promote expanded access to satellite-based
systems and services.
This work is designed to help bridge the “Regulatory
Divide” that continues to thwart end users’
efforts to obtain affordable communications. From
tele-medicine to distance learning to rural telecenters
to disaster recovery to enterprise networks, the satellite
industry is offering not only telecommunications solutions
for the “have nots”, but also the regulatory
tools to enable the public sector to fulfil their
policy objectives. |
