Mobile-satellite service

MSS Mobile earth stations, here: mobile-satellite telephones

Mobile-satellite service (short: MSS ;also: mobile-satellite radiocommunication service) is – according to Article 1.25 of the International Telecommunication Union´s (ITU) Radio Regulations (RR)^[1] – defined as «A radiocommunication service

• between mobile earth stations and one or more space stations, or between space stations used by this service; or
• between mobile earth stations by means of one or more space stations.

This service may also include feeder links necessary for its operation.»

See also

Classification

In accordance with ITU Radio Regulations (article 1) variations of this radiocommunication service are classified as follows:
Mobile service (article 1.24)

• Mobile-satellite service (article 1.25)
  • Land mobile-satellite service (article 1.27)
  • Maritime mobile-satellite service (article 1.29)
  • Aeronautical mobile-satellite service (article 1.35)

Frequency allocation

The allocation of radio frequencies is provided according to Article 5 of the ITU Radio Regulations (edition 2012).^[2]

In order to improve harmonisation in spectrum utilisation, the majority of service-allocations stipulated in this document were incorporated in national Tables of Frequency Allocations and Utilisations which is with-in the responsibility of the appropriate national administration. The allocation might be primary, secondary, exclusive, and shared.

• primary allocation: is indicated by writing in capital letters (see example below)
• secondary allocation: is indicated by small letters
• exclusive or shared utilization: is within the responsibility of administrations

Example of frequency allocation

Allocation to services
Region 1	Region 2	Region 3
137–137.025 MHz SPACE OPERATION (space-to-Earth) METEOROLOGICAL-SATELLITE (space-to-Earth) MOBILE-SATELLITE (space-to-Earth) SPACE RESEARCH (space-to-Earth) Fixed Mobile exce
137.025–137.175 Mobile-satellite (space-to-Earth) and other services
137.175–137.825 MOBILE-SATELLITE (space-to-Earth) and other services
148–149.9 FIXED MOBILE except aeronautical mobile (R) MOBILE-SATELLITE (Earth-to-space)	148-149.9 FIXED MOBILE MOBILE-SATELLITE (Earth-to-space)
149.9–150.05 MOBILE-SATELLITE (Earth-to-space) RADIONAVIGATION-SATELLITE
156.7625-156.7875 MARITIME MOBILE Mobile-satellite (Earth-to-space)	156.8125-156.8375 MARITIME MOBILE MOBILE-SATELLITE (Earth-to-space)	156.8125-156.8375 MARITIME MOBILE Mobile-satellite (Earth-to-space)
14–14.25 GHz FIXED-SATELLITE (Earth-to-space) RADIONAVIGATION Mobile-satellite (Earth-to-space) Space research
14.25–14.3 FIXED-SATELLITE (Earth-to-space) RADIONAVIGATION Mobile-satellite (Earth-to-space) Space research

References

1. ITU Radio Regulations, Section IV. Radio Stations and Systems – Article 1.25, definition: mobile-satellite service / mobile-satellite radiocommunication service
2. ITU Radio Regulations, CHAPTER II – Frequencies, ARTICLE 5 Frequency allocations, Section IV – Table of Frequency Allocations

• International Telecommunication Union (ITU)