ABSTRACT

This chapter focuses on authorisation and licensing of satellite telecommunication, leaving broadcasting for another day. The fixed satellite sector (FSS) grew both in terms of transponder demand and revenue reaching $ 10.3 billion revenue in 2009. Eutelsat SA as a French satellite operator company has had to obtain a general licence for its activities concerning space operations and specific authorisations each time it launches a new satellite and manoeuvre a satellite in orbit. The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) defines telecommunications as 'any transmission, emission or reception of signs, signals, writing, images and sounds or intelligence of any nature by wire, radio, optical or other electromagnetic systems'. At the international level, setting apart the procedures governing the use of the radio frequencies spectrum established by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), telecommunication activities are governed by the principles of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).