News and Views

The latest from the
River Advisers team

GLMA Myth # 3: Spectrum Allocation Guarantees National Licensing

So long as there is an allocation in the national frameworks to the intended satellite service — such as Fixed‑Satellite Service (FSS), Mobile‑Satellite Service (MSS) or Earth Exploration‑Satellite Service (EESS) — licensing the use of radio spectrum is just standard procedure. Right? Unfortunately not. In practice, a national spectrum allocation only signals the potential to be licensed in that country for use by satellite devices, services and equipment – often by default t

Apr 303 min read

ITU Myth #4: “All I Need Is an ITU Filing”

In the satellite world, particularly among startups and even investors, there’s often a misconception that an ITU filing alone gives you the right to operate satellite services worldwide. However, there’s no such thing as an “ITU license” or “ITU approval”. Let’s break this down and clarify what ITU filings are, what they’re not, and why operators need to go much further than simply filing to ensure their systems can operate in compliance with the relevant national and intern

Apr 23 min read

ITU Myth #3: The ITU Provides Coordination Software

In the space and satellite industry, one myth stubbornly persists: the idea that the ITU provides a magical piece of software that automates or facilitates frequency coordination. It comes up time and again, especially among newer entrants. Let’s set the record straight. There is no such thing as ITU coordination software. And that’s by design. The Truth About ITU Tools The ITU offers a suite of tools such as SpaceCap, GIMS, GIBC, BR-SIS, and Space Explorer to assist wi

Apr 23 min read

ITU Myth #2: WRC is all about Mobile

Every four years, the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC) takes critical decisions on how the world uses the radio spectrum. If you ask many industry professionals what WRC is about, you'll often hear: "It's for 5G." Or now, "It's all about 6G." But here's the truth: that’s a myth. While mobile/IMT (International Mobile Telecommunications) issues draw significant attention and headlines, they are only part of the picture. But if you look at the actual substance of the a

Apr 23 min read

ITU Myth #1: Smallsats Are Limited to Just S-band and UHF

One of the most persistent misconceptions in the satellite industry is that small satellites are restricted to operating in S-band or UHF spectrum. This belief has become so entrenched that it often shapes mission design before teams even explore what’s truly possible. Let’s be clear: this is a myth, not a rule; and it’s time we moved past it. The ITU Doesn’t Care About Your Satellite’s Size The ITU Radio Regulations make no distinction based on mass or volume. They classif

Apr 23 min read

GLMA Myth #2: “European licence” to provide satellite services

Among the satellite industry, the notion of a “pan-European licence” continues to mislead many operators and investors – particularly those from outside the bloc. Despite ambitions for a Single Market, there is currently no such thing as a “regional permission” for providing satellite services across the EU or wider Europe. Instead, operators must navigate the spectrum and telecoms approvals in each of the national territories. Fragmentation, Not Federation The EU’s current f

Apr 24 min read

GLMA Myth #1: Market Access Is Just “Filling A Form And Following The Rules”

In the satellite industry, it’s often assumed that gaining market approvals is simply a matter of completing a form and following existing rules. While this may sound ideal, it drastically oversimplifies the reality. Market access is far from a linear, standardised administrative task – it’s a strategic, country-by-country pursuit that varies widely according to multiple factors. Licensing Is National, Not Universal Satellite operators often believe that once they’ve secured

Apr 23 min read

The Future of Data Storage: Orbital Data Centers

The Energy Cost of Data Data doesn’t just exist; it must be processed, stored, and transmitted. That takes energy. A single ChatGPT query, for example, consumes roughly ten times the energy of a basic Google search. Multiply that across billions of interactions daily, and the energy footprint becomes staggering. Most data processing occurs in large-scale data centers. These facilities are the beating heart of the digital economy, but they are also among its most energy-intens

Mar 24 min read

Advanced Antenna Modelling with ITU-R S.1528-0: Optimizing NGSO Satellite Performance

Introduction Recommendation ITU-R S.1528-0 establishes critical guidelines for modelling the radiation pattern of non-geostationary (NGSO) satellite antennas operating in the Fixed-Satellite Service (FSS) below 30 GHz. Recognized globally by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the satellite industry, this framework serves as the foundation for: Network design, including coverage estimation and beam shaping, Spectrum coordination between co-frequency satellite

Feb 253 min read

Modelling Cellular Networks for Global Spectrum Management

International Spectrum Management at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is a complex puzzle. A critical piece of this puzzle is ensuring the coexistence of diverse radiocommunication services, from satellite systems to scientific radars, with the ever-expanding footprint of terrestrial International Mobile Telecommunication (IMT) networks, commonly referred to as cellular networks. The central challenge we face is twofold, technical and inherently philosophical:

Feb 253 min read