Abstract:
LEO satellite constellations such as Starlink provide a space-based communication system with global coverage, but their landing and operation in a country require the “landing right” license, the license to install and use earth stations and the license of telecommunication operation. The unauthorized landing of foreign LEO satellite constellations in a country infringes the telecommunication sovereignty recognized by the Constitution of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), as well as the specific provisions of Article No. 18.1 and Resolutions No. 22 and No. 25 of the Radio Regulations, which specify that the operation of transmitting earth stations within a country shall be carried out only with the authorization of the competent authorities of that country, and the notifying competent authorities for a satellite network or system should, as far as practicable, limit the transmitting earth stations installed and operated by the competent authorities of a country to only those licensed or authorized by the competent authorities of that country. There is room for improvement in the existing rules in terms of the scope and extent of the prohibition of unlicensed terminals by satellite operators, and the adoption of effective legislative and regulatory measures by notifying and associated competent authorities to ensure the implementation of the rules and the development of relevant technical standards to formulate technical requirements for terminating services at any time, which can be improved by World Radiocommunication Conference in 2027.