Space Policy

DID YOU KNOW?

The commercial space sector is the only sub-sector of space applications today capable of delivering on all three imperatives - societal, economic and strategic - as noted by the Commission to Member States as drivers of the space policy for the European Union.

THE CASE FOR SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS IN EU SPACE POLICY

The EU has to breathe life into its new Art. 189 competency on space. With so much negative attention having been given to the existing flagship programs Galileo & GMES, satellite communications (satcoms) presents an opportunity for the Commission to show-off Europe's success stories in space as well.

Satcoms has been central to the EU becoming a powerful space actor on the global space scene. Europes first regional telecommunications satellite system, the European Telecommunications Satellite Organisation Intergovernmental Organisation (IGO) was established in the 70's & the first private operator emerged in the 1980's. The 1990's saw the the successful growth of the commercial sector resulting in the policy framework around satellite communications falling away. However with new space competencies emerging in China & Indi a, the motivations for the creation of the original IGO are more valid and vital than ever today for the entire space sector, namely:

  1. To support the European space industry in producing [more] telecommunications satellites in series.
  2. To provide a sustained market to continue to boost the Ariane program.

Satcoms in the EU space policy will ensure sustained, future growth for this sector and vital knock-on effects for the whole space sector: new satellites and more launches. (i.e. the same motivations that applied in the 70s). Satellite communications serve markets that terrestrial communications cannot: emergency comms/ secure comms for troops/ bringing Internet to mountain, island & other remote areas.

The Digital Agenda for Europe calls for an unprecedented investment into terrestrial communications infrastructure. Parallel political support is needed to ensure that both public and private investments continue into satellite communications as well. Therefore the EU Space Program must include the satellite communications sector, next to navigation, earth observation and access to space.

BENEFITS OF SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE COMMERCIAL SPACE SECTOR

Societal benefits. Direct contribution to society:

  • Digital TV broadcasting (including high-definition TV) to 77 million households in the EU
  • Connecting the most remote parts of the territory to broadband Internet.

Economic contribution:

  • 4 of the worlds leading satellite operators are European, sustained growth EVEN throughout the economic crisis
  • The commercial sector contributes to 60% of the space industrys revenues
  • 9 out of ten Ariane launches are commercial satellites

Strategic contribution. The service to governments and the general well being of the Union takes the form of:

  • Enabling emergency communications
  • Ensuring secure communications for EU troops
  • Enabling the fight against piracy on the high seas
  • Enabling mobile communications for ships or planes


ESOA therefore recommended to Commissioner Tajani that the Communication's emerging space policy properly reflects the role and importance of the satcoms sector.