Space for Sustainable Development

High-Level Dialogue Explores Satellite Technology’s Role in Global Connectivity and Sustainable Development

In a high-level dialogue on “space for sustainable development,” with a particular focus on connectivity, six distinguished speakers from various sectors and countries convened to discuss the significant role of satellite technology in advancing global connectivity. The dialogue highlighted the remarkable growth in satellite operations, with a notable increase from 40 countries and six intergovernmental satellite organisations operating satellites in 2003 to 92 countries and nine organisations by the end of 2023.

Angola’s strategy includes a focus on regional leadership, technological autonomy, economic development, and social development through its national space programme and the pursuit of its own telecommunications satellite, AngoSat. The country’s Minister of Telecommunications, Information Technologies, and Social Communication outlined the vision behind Angola’s decision to develop a national space programme, emphasising the importance of connectivity in remote areas and the challenges faced in implementing such a programme.

Spain, represented by the Secretary General of Telecommunications and Regulation of Individual Services, emphasised the importance of satellite communication for sustainable development and bridging the digital divide, highlighting its ‘Unico Rural Demand’ programme. This initiative has been a milestone in broadband connectivity in Spain, ensuring access to high-speed internet at affordable prices, particularly in rural and isolated areas.

From India, the Additional Secretary of the Department of Telecommunications shared insights into the country’s strategic use of satellite technology to address the rural-urban connectivity gap. India’s extensive use of both geostationary satellites and VSATs has been instrumental in providing weather forecasting, distance learning, and disaster management services, among others. The country is also exploring innovative satellite technologies to further bridge the digital divide.

The Director General of the Global Satellite Operators Association (GESOA) provided an industry perspective, highlighting the critical role of satellite communications in reaching unserved or underserved areas. The industry is experiencing a period of significant innovation and growth, offering new services and solutions that are more affordable, efficient, reliable, and secure. The integration of satellite technology with terrestrial networks is seen as a key factor in delivering meaningful connectivity globally.

Professor Tim Unwin offered a different perspective, more focused on the sustainability aspects of connectivity. He raised concerns about the environmental impact of satellites, including the carbon footprint of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellations, space debris, and the potential for conflict in space. He emphasised the need for a global agreement on treating outer space as part of our environment and for responsible satellite deployment and disposal.

The session concluded with a consensus on the importance of cooperation among countries, the public and private sectors, and international forums like the ITU. The Director of the Radio Communication Bureau of the ITU emphasised the need for cooperation to ensure a predictable international legal framework that accommodates technological innovation while offering legal certainty.

The dialogue ended with an invitation to a yoga session, symbolising a moment of disconnection from the intense discussions and a return to a more grounded state, reflecting the balance between technological advancement and the need for mindfulness and sustainability.

Alexandre Vallet Vallet:
So welcome to this session, this high-level dialogue on space for sustainable development, specifically focused on the case of connectivity. We are fortunate to have with us six distinguished speakers. Two of them are joining us remotely. For first, His Excellency Minister Mario Augusto da Silva Oliveira, who is the Minister of Telecommunications, Information Technologies, and Social Communication in Angola. Thank you very much, Your Excellency, for your participation, and welcome. The second remote panelist will be Mr. Matias Gonzalez-Martin, the Secretary General of Telecommunications and Regulation of Individual Services in the Ministry for Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation of Spain. Welcome as well. Otherwise, we have with us four in-person speakers. First, Mr. Miraj Verma, the Additional Secretary of the Department of Telecommunications, the Ministry of Communications in India. Welcome. Then, Ms. Isabelle Mauro, the Director General of the Global Satellite Operators Association, GESOA, welcome. And Professor Tim Unwin, the Catalyst of the ICT for Development Collective, and also an Emeritus Professor of Geography in the Royal Holloway University of London. Welcome. And finally, Mr. Mario Manevich, the Director of the Radio Communication Bureau of the ITU, who is going to deliver a keynote setting the context of this session and presenting us what we are going to discuss today. Mr. Manevich, please.

Mario Maniewicz:
Thank you, Alexander, and good afternoon, everyone. Excellency, distinguished guests, fellow panelists, ladies and gentlemen, I’m glad to welcome you at this WSIS session dedicated to space technology for connectivity, a topic that has been not only a field of unprecedented innovations during the last two decades, but also a pathway to our future. As we gather here today for WSIS Plus 20, it seems fitting to take a brief journey back in time to the very first session of the WSIS in December 2003. The outcomes of that inaugural session still resonate today and are of particular relevance to our current discussion. The plan of action adopted at that session already recognized the essential role of satellite systems for connectivity when calling to develop and strengthen national, regional, and interregional broadband network infrastructure, including delivery by satellite and other systems to help in providing the capacity to match the needs of countries and their citizens and for the delivery of new ICT-based services. Since 2003, multiple and diverse initiatives have been developed by an ever-growing number of states to ensure the availability of such satellite services. To give you a better feeling of this development, let me simply compare two sets of figures. At the end of 2003, 40 countries and 6 intergovernmental satellite organizations were operating satellites, most of them on the geostationary orbit. And at the end of 2023, 92 countries and 9 intergovernmental satellite organizations were operating satellites on all types of orbits. When also counting countries having submitted their plans for future satellite systems for registration to ITU, we reached an impressive number of 109. What better example of the globalization of the space industry than this figure? We are fortunate to be able to highlight during this session three prominent examples of such success – Angola, Spain, and India. They will tell us about the vision behind their successes, but also give some tangible examples of the benefits brought by satellite connectivity to the socio-economic development of their countries. In parallel with governmental initiatives, and also at an unprecedented pace, The satellite industry has produced countless innovations in several areas, ranging from the dramatic increase in throughput delivered by satellite systems, as reflected by the evolution from the rather outdated reference to high-speed satellite services in the 2003 WSIS plan of actions, to the current widespread adoption of the term very high-throughput satellites, to the publicly famous use of lower orbits, and to the ability to seamlessly integrate with terrestrial systems. The Global Satellite Operators Association will be sharing insights into these and other achievements during today’s session, offering a unique perspective about the industry’s progression. Looking at past achievements helps to provide us with a positive impulse towards a future of continuing process and innovations. However, all these initiatives and innovations are in vain if we lose sight of the goal they seek to support, providing means of affordable connectivity to those that are unserved or underserved. According to the latest data from ITU, the number of people worldwide not connected to the Internet in 2023 are estimated to 2.6 billion people. This number only is a stark reminder of the remaining work ahead of us. The ICT4D collective will share with us some outputs from the research they conduct in the field of information and communication technologies for development. Ladies and gentlemen, while satellite technology was initially considered to connect underserved areas, such as remote and sparsely populated areas, technologies merging terrestrial communication networks and satellite systems are maturing and now offer promises of a seamless integration between these long-time separated worlds, not only now in such remote areas, but basically everywhere humans would wish to be connected. Keeping in mind the SDG targets in 2030, I suggest that we also use this session to exchange our views. about the challenges and even the obstacles faced by governments and the private sector, which are hampering a more widespread adoption and deployment of satellite connectivity solution. Let’s also use this opportunity to identify the most pressing issues to work upon during the coming years in the context of the OASIS. Thank you very much for your attention.

Alexandre Vallet Vallet:
Thank you very much, Mr. Manevich, for the introduction to our discussions. And just as promised by the OBDR director, let us now learn about a few successes of where satellite technology has been leveraged to provide better connectivity. And I’m pleased to start with the case of Angola and to give the floor to his excellency, Minister Da Silva Oliveira. Minister, you have the floor.

Mário Augusto da Silva Oliveira:
You, all the protocol observed and according with the time of this conference, I say that the vision and the strategy behind the Angola decision to develop a national space program and pursued it’s own telecommunication satellite, AngolSat, include four important points. First, the regional leadership. Angolans committed to the space exploration position of the country as a regional leader in space technology and satellite services, paving the way for the collaboration and partnership with neighboring countries and the international stakeholders. Second one, technological autonomy. By developing our own space capabilities, Angola aimed to reduce dependence on foreign satellite service, thereby enhancing its… technological autonomy. Third, economic development. The space program is seen as a driver for economic growth, providing new opportunities in sectors such as telecommunications, agriculture, and natural resource management. It is also needed to generate revenue through the commercialization of satellite service. The fourth, social development. To improve connectivity across the country, particularly in remote areas. This aimed to bridge the digital divide, enhance education, and improve overall quality of life for our citizens. Use ANGOLSAT II to expand telecommunication and ICT services throughout the national territory and synergies in interconnection of infrastructures and economic integration with the ACDC countries, the region that Angola is part of. The main difficulties faced by Angola in implementing the space program include also four topics. Technical expertise. Initially, there was a lack of local expertise in space technology and extensive training and international partnership were needed to build the necessary skill gaps and knowledge. A screening process across the country was conducted to identify young professionals with skills. sets aligned with the program’s expectations. The second term is infrastructure development. Establishing the necessary ground infrastructures, ground satellite receipt station, and the resilient mission control center required an upgrade 24 plus seven in orbit the ANGOSAT-2. International partnership. Navigating international partnership and agreement to procure satellite technology and service required careful negotiation and strategic planning. Financial constraint. The high cost of developing, launching, and maintenance ANGOSAT-2 posed a significant financial challenge requiring substantial investments. One notable example of positive transformation brought by ANGOSAT-2 in significant improvement in communication service in remote and underserved areas of Angola. Before ANGOSAT, many rural regions had limited or no access to reliable communication infrastructures, which hindered economic development and social integration. With the deployment of ANGOSAT-2, these remote areas now have access to telecommunication service, including internet connectivity. We have established a project named Connect Angola, intending to address the digital divide in Angola. and extend to all the African continents. By June 13 to 15, 2024, during the Angotik, the ICT forum, we expect to launch nine new Vsat Connect Angola terminals, making a total of approximately 20 Connect Angola terminal spread among 12 provinces in Angola. Moreover, we are working to install the first Connect Angola terminal in one of the ACDC countries. It is important to highlight that Connect Angola is addressing key elements in Angola, economic opportunity, small business, and the entrepreneur in the rural areas can leverage improved connectivity to access markets, resource, and information for steering economic growth. Enhancement education. Schools in remote areas now have access to online educational resources, improving the quality of education, and broadening learning opportunity for the students. Connectivity to administrative agents. Connectivity for administrative office, and the efficiency of process and procedures, improving service for the citizen. For this stage of the conference, this is my first speech, and thanks for listening.

Alexandre Vallet Vallet:
Thank you very much, Your Excellency, for these very rich insights into the achievements of Angola through the satellite Angostura. Let me now turn to Mr. González-Martin to learn about the activities and vision of Spain in this field. Please, Mr. González-Martin.

Matías González Martín:
Thank you. Can you confirm you can hear me?

Alexandre Vallet Vallet:
Very well, very well.

Matías González Martín:
Perfect. Thank you. Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, and thank you to the ITU for the opportunity to participate in this relevant event. I would also like to congratulate the ITU Secretary General, Ms. Doreen Bogotán-Martin, and the Director of the Radio Communication Bureau, for the success of the last year’s World Radio Communication Conference in Dubai, which was a great success for the organization. Congratulations for this achievement. And finally, I would also like to congratulate Mr. Albert Rosti for his election as chairman of this forum. Entering on my speech on satellite connectivity. In Spain, we are convinced that satellite communication is a fundamental tool for sustainable development and bridging the digital divide. Access to the Internet and digital services is essential for economical progress, social inclusion, and for improving people’s quality of life, especially in rural and remote areas. A prominent example of our commitment to universal connectivity is the Internet. connectivity in Spain is the program what we called Unico Rural Demand. This is a pioneering initiative that has been a milestone in broadband connectivity in Spain, allowing 100% of the population to have access to high speed internet broadband, 200 megabits per second, which is a comparable speed to the one that citizens in more dense populated areas are having, at an affordable price, a maximum of 35 euros. Unico Rural Demand offers a viable alternative to fiber optics in places where the deployment of this technology, of FTTH, is not feasible or has not become possible yet. So, especially these areas are mostly rural, isolated and dispersed areas within the country. The program, which has been in operation for a year and has public funding, has reserved capacity for citizens and subsidized part of the user’s access fee dues, consequently ensuring affordable and quality connectivity. With a capacity to finance more than 50,000 users, UNIQO Rural Demand demonstrates Spain’s commitment to digital inclusion and the target of reducing the digital divide within the territory. Challenges and opportunities in the space sector. The space sector faces significant challenges such as the growing problem of space debris, especially due to the increase in satellite mega constellations in low earth orbit, LEO satellites, LEO technology. Another important challenge is the efficient management of the radio spectrum, which becomes increasingly complex due to the exponential increase in usage required. In this sense, it is essential to guarantee compatibility between different satellite systems in terms of frequencies and orbits, as well as to establish spectrum access fees that are transparent and affordable for all actors. The management and regulation of space are crucial aspects to ensure the sustainability and responsible use of space resources. In Spain, we have created the advisory council for the aerospace security strategy with the aim of preparing a draft space law that establishes a solid and updated legal framework for space activities in our country. In addition, we are working on updating the regulations regarding the Spanish registry of objects launched into outer space, updating it to the new realities and challenges of the space sector that I have mentioned previously. At the European level, we support initiatives such as the new European Union Space Law, which promotes safety, resilience and sustainability of space activities, as well as the Iris Square program, the new European Union Secure Satellite Constellation. As a conclusion, the ITU organization plays a crucial role in promoting sustainable development through satellite connectivity, international cooperation and constructive dialogue are essential to address the challenges and seize the opportunities offered by space. In Spain, we are definitely committed to the advancement of satellite technologies and the new expansion of universal connectivity. Proof of this commitment is our active participation in the GIGA, a joint initiative of the ITU and UNICEF that seeks to connect all schools in the world to the internet. Spain has contributed significantly to this project, GIGA, providing 17 million euros and hosting the GIGA Technology Center in Barcelona. This collaboration demonstrates young people’s access to educational resources and opportunities. driving a more connected, inclusive and sustainable future for all. We are grateful that within the World Summit of the Information Society 2024, space has been left to discuss space for sustainable development. Thanks again for the opportunity to participate in this meeting. Thank you very much.

Alexandre Vallet Vallet:
I don’t know why there is this outlook which happened. Thank you very much, Mr. Matheus González, for this comprehensive description of the Spanish initiatives, quite a lot of them, on satellite technologies and connectivity. Let me now give the floor to our in-person panelist, Mr. Verma, from the Ministry of Communication of India, to learn more about the strategy and the achievement of India. Please, you have the floor.

Niraj Verma:
Thank you, Mr. Alexander, His Excellency, distinguished guests and friends. First, let me give you the context. India is the second largest country in terms of subscriptions. We have around 1,200 subscriptions, both mobile and fixed line, out of which only 3% is a fixed line. The rest is mobile connection. And if you look at tele-density of the country, it is more than 85%. But if you look at the rural-urban divide, only around 60% rural India has got connection. So there is a gap. And in this context, the use of space, India has been strategically using it, and I would cover initially how it has been using it. I’ll cover the traditional part, and then the new technology which it has been using. In traditionally… Both Geostationary Satellites and VSATs are being used extensively. In Geostationary Satellites, we have used INSAT or Indian National Satellite System which provide weather forecasting and communication, then crop acreage and production estimation is being done. We have another type of satellites called EDUSAT which is Educational Satellites and which provide distance learning and virtual classrooms in the rural India. We have Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Systems which provide tsunami early warning system and disaster management. In VSAT, we have been using very extensively. We have around 4,200 villages where we are using VSAT in rural and far off areas. India has got two sets of islands, Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep, they are very far off and we had been using traditionally the VSATs and satellites for connectivity. Recently we have connected them with submarine cables but these systems are still using the backup connectivity. We are also now using NGO Satellites, NGSO Satellites, Airtel and Jio, these are two service providers. So Airtel has got license and OneWeb which is a LEO Satellites and there are around 640 such satellites and Jio has got Mew Satellites, another 11 satellites, they have been given license under GMPCS, similarly BSNL has been given license. So we have been using satellite, both the traditional technology and the new technology, and it is increasingly being used to reduce the digital divide because not only there is a gap of connectivity if you look at digital divide, again, mostly in urban India you have internet connection but the penetration is very low in the rural India. I’ll also give you a context of how Universal Social Obligation Fund is going to use space technology. So we have two very broad type of projects which are being implemented under USOF. One is 4G saturation in rural and far-off areas, we are setting up some 40,000 mobile towers in very far areas under this. Almost 15% of such towers will have backhaul connectivity through satellites and similarly for we have started a project called Bharatnet network and this project will connect more than 6.5 lakh villages. In this, this is a project of around 15 to 16 billion, we have issued tender of around 10 billion connecting the far-off villages and in that tender we have said that while optical fibre could be the default connectivity media but there are issues, hilly areas, far-off areas where we have kept 10% for new technology and these could be LEO, MIO type of satellites. So India is going ahead putting our emphasis and strategy behind use of space technology for bridging the digital divide. In terms of… The regulatory challenges, we don’t have much challenges. We have given licenses. But the fact is the earlier act, which was 1885 Act, has been replaced with a new act in December 23. And we have a clause where it says that a person can continue with the older license till it expires. And then it has to migrate to a new license and a new act. So there is an issue of migration and transition. We are in the process of drafting rules. And we are holding discussions with stakeholders. So once that is done, even this issue is going to be resolved. So that’s all from us. Thank you.

Alexandre Vallet Vallet:
Thank you very much. Thank you very much, Mr. Verma. And I think after hearing these three examples from countries that have leveraged satellite technologies for technology, you probably have noted that the achievement have been possible thanks to innovation brought by the space industry. So I’m glad now to turn to the global voice of the satellite operator, Miss Mauro from GSOA, who will bring us the viewpoint of the industry on this topic. Thank you.

Isabelle Mauro:
Thank you. Thank you, Alexandre. And thank you. And I know we are standing now between the cocktail and a very long day. So I’ll try to be brief. But I just want to remind everybody, and I think Mario rightly so you reminded, I think we’ve had tremendous progress in bringing the world online in the last two decades. And in particular, during the pandemic, we saw an increase that was really a tremendous boost. But the reality is that still 2.6 billion people are not connected in the world or are offline. And less than 2 third of the land mass is connected, whether this is due to access, affordability, or usability. The good news is that users connected by satellite are expected to double to 500 million. users by 2030 and that will bring expected socio-economic benefits of around 250 billion US dollars at a global level. So by nature, satellite communications really have a critical role to play in helping bridge this digital divide, in particular as we heard in unserved and underserved areas, because the biggest strength, the biggest asset really of satellite is the coverage and the reach that it can provide, including during emergency and natural disasters when terrestrial services are no longer able to function. And as we know, this is sadly becoming an increasing reality and more and more frequent. So I think it’s one of the assets of satellite that really needs to be factored in very importantly. But satellite communication solutions are particularly adequate, as we said, in difficult terrain where fixed and mobile infrastructure is also too costly to deploy. So it’s really a good combination or complementarity to, you know, terrestrial in this case. Most recently, satellite is also an industry that is going through an incredible period of innovation and growth. And it’s really offering new services and solutions that are expanding its capabilities to provide more affordable, more efficient, more reliable and more secure connectivity to areas and populations that were not covered before. And this really helped bring meaningful connectivity to all parts of the globe. But a critical part of this innovation and, you know, Mario, again, you touched upon this, it’s that we are seeing an increasing convergence of satellite and mobile networks. Whilst terrestrial and satellite have long worked together to extend connectivity with solutions such as BACOL, and I know that, you know, India, Angola and probably Spain as well, this is, you know, a model that has been used before. As we move forward, we’re now really looking into the full integration of terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks. And this is important because the optimum solution really lies in a mix of technologies. You know, it’s pulling the strengths of all technologies to reduce cost and to collectively deliver higher resilience and greater access for a much larger number of users around the world, enabling them not only to have 100% of the landmass covered, but eventually and hopefully 100% of the population. And this integration of satellite technology with terrestrial networks can offer high speed connectivity, enhanced services and connect urban as well as rural areas. So it’s not only bringing basic connectivity to citizens, but it also contributes to the overall development and progress by delivering advanced services such as IoT to SMEs, to enterprises and, for instance, to entrepreneurs, as we heard the Angolan minister say as well. And this is really a critical factor as we move ahead, because, you know, we are going to enable these services in each region to achieve their connectivity and digital goals and flourish economically and socially. So together, you know, collaboration is very important in this integration. We see an increased collaboration between mobile and satellite industry, but the collaboration with the public sector and private sector is also absolutely critical. And in particular, when we look at policy, you know, we must ensure that we have strong and agile policy frameworks that promote investment, innovation, competition, but also promote the use and subsidy of all technologies in order to ensure the most efficient use of infrastructure for both governments and private entities. And this includes establishing progressive and flexible spectrum policy, authorization regimes that are adapted to the latest development of satellite services, whilst enabling, of course, a healthy competition that will eventually benefit to end consumers. And last but not least. least, while satellite communications clearly offer great promises in bridging the digital divide, we must remember that they must be launched, deployed, operated, and disposed of in a responsible manner. And to this end, I’m really pleased to say that GSO members took an important step forward last year by adopting a Code of Conduct on Space Sustainability, which really lays out practices that will enable the world to maximize the use, the access to, and the benefits from finite resources. So to conclude, let’s keep working together to ensure that we build a sustainable and inclusive digital economy for all, and that we can help accelerate as well the SDGs and the targets of 2030. Thank you.

Alexandre Vallet Vallet:
Thank you very much, Ms. Moreau. Let now conclude the first round of discussions with Professor Tim Unwin, who is going to provide us with a different perspective on the topic, a perspective more focused, I think, on the sustainability aspects of connectivity. Please, Professor.

Tim Unwin:
Thank you very much, indeed. It’s great to be in a session on satellites, because was anybody else in the 1970s here working on satellites? So I was using them for remote-sensed imagery in my background as a geographer. And then in the early 2000s, I remember being involved in discussions with World Space, as it was then, when we were trying to find connectivity for remote parts of Africa. So it’s very nice to be invited back to say some slightly challenging observations and perspectives. You had asked me to say a little bit about affordability beforehand, so I just want to touch on affordability, and then move on to some of our recent research findings. It’s often said that satellites aren’t affordable. But I think we’ve heard some many good examples, certainly from Spain with Matthias, with subsidizing extensively their… use. Minister Oliveira in Angola mentioned this as well. But I think if you think about affordability, it depends what we mean by affordable. Marginalized can mean remote locations, it can mean marginalized communities, it can mean people who are out of the system that we have created. And I think again as the example from Spain showed, that it is always affordable to provide digital connectivity using satellites. But let’s remember that the more marginalized a community or people are, the more expensive it will always be to reach them. So the fundamental question is are we willing to pay that to ensure that the most marginalized are connected. I think as Isabel, you mentioned the actually in many areas satellites are indeed the cheapest. So the question I would like to pose to you is a little bit challenging. Can we afford not to connect people? A third of the world’s population remain, as you also mentioned, unconnected. Can we afford not to connect them? If we can answer that, then there is no problem to the affordability question. But let me move on to some of our more recent research findings. A group of us a few years ago created something called the Digital Environment System Coalition. And again Isabel, it was lovely hearing you talking that GSOA has, can I say at last, but has created, has created this new code of conduct. And I want to just raise awareness around the unintended, intended consequences of satellites and outer space. for the environment. We have no global agreement on how outer space is treated as an environment. I don’t know how many people have looked at, actually, what the environmental impact analyses that most countries have to say whether a satellite launch should take place. I’ve looked at some of the government documentation around some of the LEO satellite clusters, and the only thing that is looked at, as far as I know, but in the cases I’ve looked at, is the impact in the launch area and the impact in the potential area where the satellites may come down. But outer space is part of our environment. We need to think of it in that way. What are we doing about it? And I, as many of you already know, I’m trying to get a collective of interests around that to move this forward. And certainly UNUSA, the UN Office of Outer Space Affairs, is working closely with ITU and others to begin to move towards this. Let me give three or four examples about why this matters so much. First, I don’t know whether anybody here has seen the results of some recent research, particularly published in New Zealand, which is suggesting that the carbon footprint of LEO satellite constellations could be what times larger, do you think, than land-based traditional internet connections? 10%? 10% larger? 20% larger? 30% larger? That’s surely far too much. It’s 30% larger. The best research to date, carbon impact of LEO constellations is 30 times larger than produced by traditional land-based systems. So affordability… It’s not just a monetary thing. Can we afford satellites sustainably? I think we can if it’s done wisely. All too often it’s not. We’ve touched on satellite waste, so I’m not going to say a lot about that, Matthias touched on it, but if you haven’t looked at some of the videos produced by the European Space Agency and others, if you’re unaware of the scale of waste in space, go and look at some of them. It’s staggering, and I know not amongst good operators, but how do you extend the life of your satellites? You actually use a little bit of that fuel, a little bit more, the fuel that you were going to use for reentry. We know this happens. It’s an easy thing to stop. Every satellite that goes up should be brought down. Linked to e-waste, I’m sure we’re all familiar with efforts now by some states for war in space. If you destroy one satellite, it disintegrates into thousands, tens of thousands of tiny bits which all act as missiles. It is not unrealistic to imagine a world where satellites start accidentally or deliberately destroying each other. What then happens to our communication systems? A completely different dimension, dark skies. Imagine for a moment that you are from an indigenous community somewhere, where the stars and their configuration tell us about our lives, tell us when we should be planting crops. Then imagine the outer space that has been at the heart of our lives for countless generations. is totally different because it’s flooded by satellites. Imagine the world of the scientists, which is more usually the case. We need dark skies. For scientists working on astrophysics, astronomy, it matters. And then finally, because I’m very conscious of the time that you all want to get to the reception, just a little bit about global commons. Do we not treat outer space as we used to treat the oceans? A global commons. The oceans are meant to be good for us all. But who can afford the ships that went across those oceans? Only the rich and the powerful. And what do we do to the oceans? We pollute them. Are we not in danger of doing exactly the same with outer space? It is a global commons. It is meant to be for our common good, for everybody’s common good. Are we not in danger of treating it like the oceans? Filling it up with rubbish? And only the rich and powerful can launch a satellite. Thank you. I’ve just kept it brief, and I hope that just made us conclude the day by looking at this in some rather different ways. And the plea is, let’s have a proper integrated analysis of understanding the environmental impact of satellites. Thank you.

Alexandre Vallet Vallet:
Thank you very much. Your intervention, Professor, lead us quite naturally toward the concluding part of the panel, where I will ask each panelist to give us maybe one or two main points. steps that we need to take for the future, so either at national level, at international level, what should be the future, what should be the next steps to continue to benefit from these achievements and to benefit from them in a sustainable manner. So first, Your Excellency, Minister de Silva-Oliveira, if you can share with us what you feel are the most useful future steps that you can take.

Mário Augusto da Silva Oliveira:
Thank you, thank you for giving to us this opportunity. I can put it in four or five points. First of all, we are looking for strength-based telecommunication, ICT infrastructures, especially satellite communication in the country, and the Earth Observation Programme is a crucial strategy to achieve the goals outlined in the National Development Plan 2023-2027, support the implementation of the ACDC Digital Agenda 2027 in the ACDC Satellite Sharing Network in the African Union Agenda 2063 in the Global Task Force for Telecommunication, ICT, of the Connect 2030 Agenda, established by the International Telecommunication Union, as well as in the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Develop and maintain a robust set of space infrastructures, ensuring redundancy of services and products. to support the development of the important socio-economic sectors in Angola, using mainly four types of satellite – communication, earth observation, navigation and meteorology. Massive use of space products and services, with the emphasis on mitigating structuring problems of digital inclusion and providing a connectivity resource in the most remote areas of the country. Ensure private initiatives in the space sector through the promotion and development of the national industry toward the new space economy trend, bringing the private sector to drive the growth of the space sector in Angola. Assure the training and qualification of staff at the highest academy and technical professional level in different spheres of the space area. Promoting space education in the national context of sustainability for the implementation of the Angola Centre for Space Study. In the resume, this is the points that we are looking in the future. And as one panelist has said, together we can move much faster. And Angola is completely committed with all the organizations in the country and the world to work together to reach all the goals designed by ITU, designed by us and designed by United Nations. Thank you very much.

Alexandre Vallet Vallet:
Thank you very much, Your Excellency. Thank you for this quite wise word, and for the cooperation. I will now ask Mr. Mathias González-Martin to give us his views on the most pressing issues related to digital connectivity, especially when provided by satellite systems.

Matías González Martín:
Thank you for the floor. Very briefly, from the Spanish perspective, if we identify several crucial challenges that require attention at the ITU level to achieve consensus in the fields of satellite communications to define and agree next steps in the coming future. There are some challenges that I have already mentioned in my first intervention, very relevant. Space debris management, efficient radio spectrum management and regulatory adaptation to rapid technological evolution are probably the most relevant, in our opinion. In the coming years, technologies such as direct to mobile connectivity, satellite IoT, and broadband through mega constellations will be key to the satellite sector. It is essential to adapt regulation, current regulation, to these new use cases and communication systems to ensure orderly and sustainable development. Because regulation, we are more than accustomed to rapid obsolescence of regulatory framework in all the technologies. areas, and satellite is probably one of the most evolving technologies in the last decade. Another important challenge is international coordination on frequencies and orbits, which are becoming a very limited resource, and this becomes increasingly complex due to the exponential growth of applications and constellations. Collaboration in forums such as CPT and ITU is essential to anticipate and address these challenges. Spain, as all the countries participant and represented in this session, are committed to actively participate in these forums to reach as soon as possible consensus on the future decisions that will be beneficial for all the actors involved in the satellite sector. Thank you very much for the opportunity to participate.

Alexandre Vallet Vallet:
Thank you very much, Mr. González-Martin. Let me now turn to Mr. Verma to give us his view on the field where you think satellite technology could be of help.

Niraj Verma:
As I have told earlier, that especially in a very far-off area where reaching out through optical fiber may not be feasible, I think satellite communication can be very fruitful. We are also going for Wi-Fi, public Wi-Fi areas, and these are in remote areas. There also I think satellite could be very useful. And in this connection, I would say that how we go ahead. We had talked about affordability. So I think that if we take a policy initiative such that it attracts private investment and participation, then the cost will also come down. And of course, when we look at affordability, look at the cost to the government, I think that we have to look at the opportunity cost. As far as the consumer is concerned, I would say that in India, we have one of the cheapest data rate in the world. And when we are looking at FTTH connections with Bharatnet, we are going to have almost 50% increase in FTTH connection in the rural India. And almost 10, 15% will come through satellite communications. This again is priced at $5 per month per connection. So it is very cheap to that extent. And I think that satellite is going to play a very important role in providing fast, reliable, cheap connections in the far-off areas. Thank you.

Alexandre Vallet Vallet:
Thanks a lot. These numbers are quite impressive. Ms. Marot, maybe on the industry and government cooperation, how can policymakers and industry stakeholders address the challenge of unlocking the potential for the convergence you mentioned before?

Isabelle Mauro:
Well, I think there are probably three areas. One is clearly the collaboration first between industries. As I was saying, we are seeing, we are no longer talking just about satellite as a complement. to connect rural unserved or underserved area. We are really now talking of an integration of satellites into 5G and 6G. So we really need to look as well as over innovative services. So the three elements I think that are really important there in terms of cooperation is first the cooperation between industry, mobile and satellite. And I’m pleased to say that GSO and GSMA have signed a cooperation agreement back at Mobile World Congress precisely to accelerate that integration. Because I really believe that only that will create volume and will create economies of scales that are going to be enabling prices to go down and having more affordable services that could then enable a sort of a $5 subscription in countries such as India. The second area is policies. And I think we’ve heard it very clear and loud from the minister from Spain. We need policies that are going to foster these innovations NTN, NTN. So for that, you will need policies that are also technology neutral. We’re going to need regulation that supports all technologies. And if you have subsidies, you were talking of the Universal Service Fund, if you have subsidies, those subsidies need to be eligible for every technology. So this is really crucial. Spectrum policies, that’s where we need, of course, an engagement. I think the next four years, WRC27 is going to be absolutely crucial for our industry. Alexandre and Mario, you’re well-placed to know that 80% of the agenda is space and satellite. So that I think speaks to itself in terms of where the industry is going. And finally, sustainability. You know, I would hope to think that the world is not going to collapse as team as, you know. So I am a bit more optimistic and see as well as the opportunities. But it is, you know, we do have a responsibility as an industry, but also as governments to really work together to ensure that there is, you know, a safe use of space. and that everybody can use space. I think the good news is that you compared it to the oceans. There have been boats and pollution of oceans that have been going on for centuries, I would say. The multiplication of satellites is something very new. And maybe the comforting thing is that we are all already really looking very actively at how we need to make it safe and sustainable, whether it’s the ITU, UNOSA, industry itself, FCC, different governments, the European Union is looking at legislation. So I think all of us, it’s really the importance of this collaboration across industry and public sector to work together to ensure that we will be safe and innovate and help reach all these billions of people that are still not connected.

Alexandre Vallet Vallet:
Yes, thank you very much, and for the positive tone as well. So you have a challenge now, Professor Irwin, to conclude positively as well? No, I’m kidding. I would be interested in what you think are the most pressing steps we should undertake collectively to address the issue you raised before.

Tim Unwin:
I will be very brief. First, really practical step. Everyone in this room, never think about satellites in the same way again. Think about the implications on the environment of satellites and let that permeate everything you’re doing. Secondly, I know there are lots of ongoing things. I don’t think they’re quite as joined up and as integrated as some people might think. And I do believe that the UN system needs to take a more cogent, coherent, joined-up approach with governments and private sector companies interested in this agenda to produce what you were just talking about. It is possible if the will is there. that the ITU, together with other like-minded UN agencies, is in an ideal position to do this, to absolutely take the lead, maybe even having sustainability and environmental issues on the next WRC agenda, if it’s not too late. And if you want to hear more, we’ve actually got a more detailed session on environmental impact of digital tech at 4pm on Thursday, where we will be exploring satellites in more detail. Outer space should be used for the common good of humanity. It’s too precious for us to let pirates destroy it. The analogy of the sea. And that’s been really positive. If you allow me a slightly negative question mark, on a, I don’t know whether it’s a good day or a bad day, but increasingly I sometimes wonder whether the unconnected are not actually the fortunate ones. I got a smile, but that’s actually a very serious point. They have not been enslaved through the use of digital tech. They are free to enjoy nature. But a final reflection. Thank you for your time.

Alexandre Vallet Vallet:
Thank you. Yeah, ITU is not addressing the content, as you know, which may be also part of this point. Let’s finish this discussion with, I would say, a question to Director Manevich about what the role ITU can take and what can we make to make sure that effort by both member states and private sectors, space industry, are mutually reinforcing and create, in fact, a virtual circle of development.

Mario Maniewicz:
Yes, I think that’s a good point to finish our discussion. I think it’s important that the ITU takes an important role in making sure that the efforts by member states and the space industry are mutually reinforcing each other and they create this virtual cycle for development that you were mentioning. I think that we need to just focus on the three fundamental pillars that are the success of the ITU. And those are cooperation, cooperation, and cooperation. Firstly, cooperation among all ITU member states from all geographical regions and across all stages of development, leaving no country behind. So countries that are more savvy, that are more developed, cooperating with others that need more know-how and more technical help in order to get there. Also cooperation between the states and the private sector that Isabel mentioned several times today is key. And the ITU is very well placed for that because we have this feature of having opened membership to the industry and the academic world, that they are also members of the ITU, not only the member states, as you know. And then the third one is cooperation oriented towards results, not shying away from making sometimes difficult compromises during international negotiations in order to achieve concrete solutions for our fellow citizens. So if we maintain this atmosphere of cooperation, then the satellite industry will be able to rely on a predictable international legal framework offering legal certainty while being able to incorporate new features to cope with the never-ending technological innovation that this industry has been able to bring since its inception. So let’s cooperate. Thank you.

Alexandre Vallet Vallet:
Thank you very much. I see we are beyond time. So I suggest that now I will invite you to join the yoga session that is kindly offered by the Permanent Mission of India. This is located on the ground floor of the CACG. And this is a nice way to disconnect, I would say, if maybe someone can replay. This is a nice way to disconnect from the sometimes easy discussion that we have had today. Thank you very much, and have a good evening.