The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has accepted the proposal of a single orbital position of 26.7 degrees West and the frequency channels of future satellite networks of the Republic of Serbia for the FSS (Fixed Satellite Service) and BSS (Broadcast Satellite Service).
According to a press release from the Regulatory Agency for Electronic Communications and Postal Services (RATEL), the Republic of Serbia did not have an assigned allocation earlier, but there was a shared orbital position of 43.04 degrees East for all countries of the region (allocated to the former state of SFR Yugoslavia).
According to the Radio Regulations, certain radio frequency bands, allocated to the satellite service, are used for the development of satellite Plans, namely: the Fixed-Satellite Service Allotment Plan – Appendix 30B and the Broadcasting-Satellite Service and Associated Feeder Link Allotment Plan – Appendices 30&30A.
The Republic of Serbia, as an ITU member state, is entitled to the assignment of geostationary satellite orbits and corresponding radio frequency channels, as well as having its future satellite network registered in the appropriate plan (without any time obligation as to the putting into operation of the satellite network).
The new network of the Republic of Serbia has an orbital position of 26.7ºW and a frequency band of 800 MHz, and the new network SRB_BSS in the Appendices 30&30A Plan is assigned the same orbital position 26.7ºW, with a frequency band of 270 MHz.
"The acceptance of our proposal by the ITU and assignment of one same orbital position for both the FSS Plan (Appendix 30B) and BSS Plan (Appendices 30&30A) is of significance primarily because of the financial effect, whether the Republic of Serbia wants to set up its own satellite in the foreseeable future or wishes to lease its resources to another entity," said the release.
"It is far more affordable to set up one satellite for the whole frequency spectrum assigned to the FSS Plan (Appendix 30B) and the BSS Plan (Appendices 30&30A) (800 MHz + 270 MHz), instead of two satellites for two separate orbital positions and corresponding frequency bandwidths, taking into account that the equipment price and launching costs per satellite are in the range of 200 to 400 million US dollars," it added.