by David Hartshorn

As historic moments go, this one was decidedly understated. The doors of Cable & Satellite Russia had long since been closed, the exhibit hall was nearly empty, and eight of us–a mixed group of Russian Ministry officials, institute chiefs, satellite communications organizations, and my translator–crowded into a makeshift office behind the Global VSAT Forum exhibition stand. A cork popped, we raised our champagne cups, and took turns toasting.

The subject? Russia’s National Assembly of Satellite Communications (NASC) had become the sixth satellite communications organization to sign an unprecedented global understanding to work together to establish core regulatory and trade principles for advancing the delivery of satellite-based systems and services to consumers, and commercial and government enterprises worldwide.

The document, which is formally known as the “International Satellite Industry Understanding on Regulatory and Trade Issues,” may also serve as the basis for future collaboration between the non-profit organizations on regulatory and trade issues of common concern to the international satellite community.

In February, during the Satellite 2000 Conference in Washington, DC, the international understanding was signed by five other participants, including the Asia Pacific Satellite Communications Council, Brazil’s Associacao Brasileira das Empresas de Servicos Especializados em Telecomunicacao por Satelite, the Global VSAT Forum (GVF), Europe’s Satellite Action Plan-Regulatory Working Group, and the U.S. Satellite Industry Association. Next to sign will be the New Delhi-based VSAT Service Providers Association of India, which has also agreed to join the effort.

Why is the program important? Because essential satellite-based solutions are available today, but end users are either denied access to them, or are forced to wait inordinate periods of time and pay artificially high prices due to outmoded regulation. Coordination among the seven organizations will enable the global industry to be more effective in working with governments to facilitate the liberalization and harmonization of regulatory regimes in every nation of the world–including, most recently, Russia.

Skeptical? Don’t be. Russia’s VSAT sector provides an excellent example of what can happen when the industry unites, formulates solutions, and cooperates with government to get them implemented.

A case in point: In 1997, if you wanted to use one VSAT terminal in Russia, the license application turnaround time was likely to be more than 12 months. Today, that same application would be processed in no more than six months–and the Russian government has signaled its interest in taking further steps to improve the regulatory regime. Meanwhile, Russia’s licensing fees, which are among the highest in the world, have also begun to come down.

Such improvements do not happen on their own. The first step was for the local Russian industry to begin coordinating among companies through a local association, NASC. Next, NASC gained the support of the global VSAT industry by joining the GVF. And by co-signing the international understanding, Russia can now be counted among the nations working toward immediate regulatory and policy solutions–supported by every satellite sector.

Still skeptical? Then take the case of India. As recently reported in this column (February 2000, page 22), the Indian government had committed to deregulate VSAT service provision. Since then, they have made good on their promise, implementing a new policy that permits the use of VSATs for Internet service provision via any satellite in the orbital arc.

The events leading up to India’s breakthrough were very similar to Russia’s. A local association–VSPA (VSAT Service Providers Association)–was formed to address India’s regulatory challenges. VSPA joined the global VSAT industry association, and a coordinated effort was initiated that directly involved the Indian government, end users, and service providers. Soon, further solutions for India may be made possible through VSPA’s signing of the international document.

For years, global bodies like the International Telecommunication Union and the World Trade Organization have been calling on governments to reform. Now, the international satellite industry is stepping forward from every world region to support that effort.

The end result will be nothing less than expanded access to reliable, rapid, and cost-effective broadband, direct-to-home, mobile, broadcast, rural telecommunications, disaster mitigation, telemedicine, distance learning, Internet, and other public- and private-sector network services.

In turn, such services translate into solutions urgently needed to advance education, safety, health, and economic prosperity in many economies. So stay tuned. We’ve developed a taste for champagne.

David Hartshorn is the Secretary General of the Global VSAT Forum, a London-based international non-profit association of the VSAT industry, serving as its unified voice throughout the world. For more information, contact Alexander Matveev, the GVF’s Russia Correspondent and NASC Executive Director, e-mail: [email protected]; or David Hartshorn, e-mail: [email protected]