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A Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) license represents a government authorization to operate a VSAT in a particular country. The consequences of operating a VSAT without a license may include fines, confiscation of equipment, and/or a government ban from doing future in-country business. |
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There are two types of VSAT licenses: |
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Operator Licenses  |
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End-user Licenses |
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In general, operator licenses are issued by the government to a few local communications companies that offer services out of their local infrastructure. In contrast, end-user licenses are issued by the government to the final beneficiaries of the service.
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OPERATOR LICENSES |
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Typically, a government will grant an operator’s license to a company with a local office that makes a commitment to develop telecommunications infrastructure. Most commonly, there are reporting obligations as well as maintenance or revenue sharing fees required from the licensed operator. Obtaining an operator’s license can be difficult and time-consuming as well as expensive. The application for an operator’s license may require, among other things, a business plan from the applicant detailing how the applicant will develop local infrastructure.
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END-USER LICENSES |
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End-user licenses are issued by the government to the final user of satellite communications services; that is, to the final beneficiary. End-user licenses are easier to get and are less costly compared to the operator licenses. On the other hand, end-user licenses are typically restricted to the technical parameters of the particular system applied for. Anytime the operating parameters of the systems change (e.g. change of satellites or antenna model), the end-user license must be modified. |
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The Law Office of Raul Magallanes can obtain end-user licenses in the United States as well as in select jurisdictions throughout the world. |
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OBTAINING NEW LICENSES |
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Processing a new license requires the completion of several elements. The majority of these elements relate to technical characteristics of VSAT system. These elements include: |
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An interference analysis study |
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A frequency coordination process |
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A radiation hazard study |
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Satellite link analysis calculations |
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Antenna radiation patterns |
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The Law Office of Raul Magallanes can obtain new end-user licenses in the United States as well as in select jurisdictions throughout the world. The Firm will obtain and review all technical studies required to be filed with the license application. An “attorney-engineer” will work directly with the client’s technical staff and check the technical studies for accuracy and consistency with the legal part of the application. |
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LICENSE MODIFICATION |
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End-user licenses are usually valid for long periods of time (e.g. ten or fifteen years) or even indefinitely. In addition, end-user licenses are generally constrained to the original engineering design parameters of the VSAT system. Therefore, whenever the associated VSAT system changes, the end-user license must also be modified. Regulators enumerate the type of engineering changes that prompt license modifications. In general, a license modification is required when one or more of the following system changes take place: |
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Increasing the earth station transmit power |
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Increasing the earth station power density |
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Replacing the antenna with a different model |
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Adding or changing frequencies |
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Adding or changing satellites |
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Increasing the number of earth stations (for blanket licenses) |
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Maintaining a VSAT license is akin to maintaining any other company asset. A poorly maintained VSAT license can depreciate or completely loose its value.
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The Law Office of Raul Magallanes can work technical personnel to determine if a license modification is needed. If a modification is needed, the firm can work with the FCC to procure the modification.
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