[Starlink] Starlink filings for D-Band via Tonga

[Ulrich Speidel]

OK, so this seems to be related to a somewhat bigger development that 
Starlink is pushing through Tonga as the regulatory authority:

https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/175ttvz/spacex_files_29988satellite_wband_network_using/
https://www.spaceintelreport.com/spacex-files-29988-satellite-w-band-network-using-kingdom-of-tonga-as-regulatory-home/

ESIAFI 1 was bought by Tonga - it was the old COMSTAR 4 satellite and 
named after their women's rugby team.

Quite why they've chosen Tonga as regulatory home - no idea. Maybe 
because they think Tonga owes them a favour. Currently trying to find 
out more - stay tuned.

On 17/11/2023 6:29 am, David Fernández via Starlink wrote:
> Hi Alex,
>
> "A person on twitter seems to be saying this filing is precisely the
> filing that spacex did at FCC"
>
> Would you mind linking to that tweet, if it is public?
>
> Thank you.
>
> Regards,
>
> David
>
>
> > Date: Thu, 16 Nov 2023 14:27:03 +0100
> > From: Alexandre Petrescu <alexandre.petrescu at gmail.com>
> > To: starlink at lists.bufferbloat.net
> > Subject: Re: [Starlink] Starlink filings for D-Band via Tonga
> > Message-ID: <805d52ce-b517-49b9-a053-8306cd20b8aa at gmail.com>
> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed
> >
> > Towards clarification,
> >
> > The .mdb file of the ITU filing can be read with Excel (tab Data ->
> > leftmost button 'Access'). The .mdb is on the web page of the ITU
> > filing, at the bottom of the page.
> > 
> https://www.itu.int/ITU-R/space/asreceived/Publication/DisplayPublication/53068 
> <https://www.itu.int/ITU-R/space/asreceived/Publication/DisplayPublication/53068>
> >
> > It might be that this 'ESIAFI II' is just a name because of some reason.
> >
> > There are some interesting dates like '06/03/2023', '13/03/2023' and
> > '20/03/2023' and '6/10/2023'.
> >
> > There is much data about orbits, powers, beams that I dont know how to
> > interpret. I would need the precise description of the database format,
> > but I dont know where to get it from.
> >
> > The frequencies are listed, as I interpret these fields: 123 GHz - 130
> > GHz centered on 126.5 GHz, 158.5-164 c 161.25 and 167-174.5 c 170.75.
> >
> > About D-band: I am not sure what is precisely a 'D band' and I think
> > that discussion about bands is very complicated. I know there is
> > wikipedia page about it, yes.
> >
> > A person on twitter seems to be saying this filing is precisely the
> > filing that spacex did at FCC; but comparing the numbers shows some
> > differences: total sats per plane differ at some altitudes like at 525km
> > altitude: ITU says 3600 sats whereas FCC says 3360 sats. There can be
> > speculations as to why they differ as there can be errors of various
> > people including myself.
> >
> > The person on twitter tells that ITU filing is in this table, but I dont
> > know how he generated it. Not sure whether he made some syntax error.
> >
> >> Altitude (km) Inclination (degrees) Satellites per Plane Planes
> >> Total Satellites
> >> 340 53 110 48 5280
> >> 345 46 110 48 5280
> >> 350 38 110 48 5280
> >> 360 96.9 120 30 3600
> >> 525 53 120 28 3600 [nota by me: FCC says 3360 and not 3600, see
> >> table below]
> >> 530 43 120 28 3600
> >> 535 33 120 28 3600
> >> 604 148 12 12 144
> >> 614 115.7 18 18 324
> >>
> >
> > I found this earlier FCC document has this table at this URL
> > https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-22-91A1.pdf 
> <https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-22-91A1.pdf> 
> (not sure
> > whether it is the most authoritative, but at least the mathematics
> > 28*120 at altitude 525 does make sense to be 3360).
> >
> >> Altitude (km) Inclination (degrees) Orbital Planes sats/plane Total 
> sats
> >>
> >> 340 53 48 110 5280
> >>
> >> 345 46 48 110 5280
> >>
> >> 350 38 48 110 5280
> >>
> >> 360 96.9 30 120 3600
> >>
> >> 525 53 28 120 3360 [nota by me:
> >> 28*120 == 3360 indeed]
> >>
> >> 530 43 28 120 3360
> >>
> >> 535 33 28 120 3360
> >>
> >> 604 148 12 12 144
> >>
> >> 614 115.7 18 18 324
> >>
> >
> > Alex
> >
> >
> > Le 16/11/2023 à 10:30, Alexandre Petrescu via Starlink a écrit :
> >>
> >> Le 15/11/2023 à 16:48, David Fernández via Starlink a écrit :
> >>> I have got news about the recent filing by Starlink for the use of
> >>> frequencies in D-band:
> >>> 
> https://www.itu.int/ITU-R/space/asreceived/Publication/DisplayPublication/53068 
> <https://www.itu.int/ITU-R/space/asreceived/Publication/DisplayPublication/53068>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> This has been done via Tonga, not the USA, and is for both, uplink and
> >>> downlink frequencies, although only downlink seems to be allocated now
> >>> for satellite use.
> >>
> >> Thanks for the pointer.
> >>
> >> It is the first time I hear about this 'ESIAFI II' constellation. I
> >> understand it is a different thing than the starlink existing
> >> constellation.
> >>
> >> It adds to the list of plans of LEO Internet constellations (starlink,
> >> kuiper, oneweb etc.)
> >>
> >> Alex
> >>
> >>>
> >>> Regards,
> >>>
> >>> David
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-- 
****************************************************************
Dr. Ulrich Speidel

School of Computer Science

Room 303S.594 (City Campus)

The University of Auckland
u.speidel at auckland.ac.nz  
http://www.cs.auckland.ac.nz/~ulrich/
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