October 1, 2021 Technical Requirements for Ku-band Non-geostationary Satellite Communications Systems by Satellite Constellation Using a 1200 km Altitude Polar Orbit

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) received a partial report on September 28, 2021, from the Information and Communications Council (Chaired by UCHIYAMADA Takeshi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Toyota Motor Corporation). This report was issued in response to Telecommunications Technology Council inquiry No. 82 of September 25, 1995. That is, technical requirements for Ku-band non-geostationary satellite communications systems by satellite constellation using a 1200 km altitude polar orbit as part of technical requirements for mobile satellite communications systems using non-geostationary satellite.

1. Background

The practical application of small satellites has become relatively easy. It has made it possible to build a satellite constellation in which a large number of small satellites launched into medium and low orbits with minimal latency are linked and operated in an integrated manner, enabling businesses to provide a variety of services, such as high-speed, high-capacity communications.
As a result, a new communication service using the Ku-band non-geostationary satellite communication system with a satellite constellation using a polar orbit at an altitude of 1200 km is scheduled to start in 2022. Since June 2017, the Satellite Communications System Subcommittee (Chief Investigator: ANDO Makoto, Professor Emeritus, Tokyo Institute of Technology), Department on Information and Communications Technology, Information and Communications Council has been studying the technical conditions for the introduction of this service in Japan. As a result of the study, a partial report was received from the Information and Communications Council on September 28, 2021.

2. Outline of the Report

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  The published material is in Japanese only.

3. Future plans

Based on this partial report, MIC will formulate technical standards for Ku-band non-geostationary satellite communication systems using a satellite constellation in a polar orbit at an altitude of 1200 km.