Procedures for space and space receive licensing

Process to apply for space and space receive apparatus licences

This business operating procedure explains how we assess licence applications for space-based communication systems. These are to ensure consistency with:

• Australian regulations related to space and space receive licences
• the international (ITU) regulatory status
• the international (ITU) registration details of the subject satellite network

Submission and processing of applications for space and space receive apparatus licences

The procedure covers space or space receive licences within the frequency ranges in the Radiocommunications (Communication with Space Object) Class Licence 2015. You must provide the response from this process with your apparatus licence application.

ESIMs communicating with space stations

Request a space or space receive licence to use earth stations in motion (ESIMs) communicating with geostationary space stations in the fixed-satellite service. This covers the frequency bands:

• 19.7 to 20.2 GHz
• 29.5 to 30.0 GHz

Licensing procedures for ESIMs communicating with GSO space stations in the FSS in 19.7–20.2 GHz and 29.5–30.0 GHz 

ESIMs communicating with space stations - interim

These are interim arrangements that will be reviewed pending the outcomes of the ITU World Radiocommunication Conference 2023. Authorisation of ESIMs under this procedure is limited to 1 January 2025. Use it for space and space receive apparatus licences to use ESIMs in the fixed-satellite service communicating with non-geostationary space stations in the frequency ranges 17.7–18.6 GHz, 18.8–19.3 GHz, 19.7–20.2 GHz, 28.5–29.1 GHz and 29.5–30 GHz.

Interim licensing procedures for ESIMs communicating with NGSO space stations in the FSS in part of the Ka Band

The business operating procedure disclaimer applies to these processes.