Public hearings on the Astronomy Geographic
Advantage Bill [B17-2007]
(Notice 631 of 2007, GG 29897)
Portfolio Committee on Science and Technology
1 August 2007
Dr Andrew Barendse
Mr Johan Smit
Mr Elton de Bruin
Ms Mpumie Plaatjie
Introduction
• SA telecom sector undergoing period of rapid change
in terms of:
– Licence conversion process
– Market reviews
– Africa’s satellite, terrestrial and undersea
connectivity
• AGA bill addresses many issues which is extremely
complex and could fundamentally alter the use of
radio frequency in South Africa
Potential far reaching impact on Telkom
Slide 2
Background – importance of radio astronomy
• Telkom acknowledge that:
– SA have areas very suitable for astronomy,
including radio astronomy
– There are unique opportunities that projects, such
as SKA and MeerKAT, will bring to SA
– Radio astronomy sites must be protected against
radio frequency interference
– Very stringent levels of protection is required for
radio astronomy sites
There is however a price to pay – the question is
what and how much?
Slide 3
The bigger picture – many stakeholders
Radio
astronomy
Comm’s &
Broadcasting
Department of
Communications
Department of
Science and
Technology
Radio
Frequency
Spectrum
Department of
Environmental Affairs
and Tourism
Weather
Slide 4
Department of
Transport
+ DoD, DTI, etc.
Maritime
Aeronautical
History of AGA Bill – Telkom’s involvement
• Telkom consulted during initial Northern Cape frequency
investigations for SKA site – 2003/2004
• Draft 5 of the Bill (13 April 2006)
– Received via the SKA Project office – 1 June ‘06
– Submission made – 23 June ‘06
– Telkom expressed concerns on certain matters
– Many of Telkom’s inputs accepted
• AGA Bill (25 May 2007):
– Inputs requested by DST - 25 May ’07
– Submission made - 4 June ’07
– Inputs requested by Portfolio Committee on Science and
Technology, submission 29 June ’07
– Oral hearings – 31 July to 1 Aug ’07
– Future actions?
Slide 5
Summary of Telkom’s key arguments
• Further consultations:
– Declaration and designation of astronomy areas and
activities
– Prior to making regulations
– Include all relevant stakeholders
• Undertaking of regulatory impact analysis on the use of radio
spectrum:
– Operational implications on telecom operators
– Financial compensation where necessary
• Clarify definitions:
– Astronomy devices, astronomy advantage areas, activity,
material financial implication
• Consistency with other regulations:
– ECA 2005
– Regulations under Telecommunications Act 1996
– Scope of regulatory oversight
Slide 6
Agenda
•
•
•
•
•
International management of radio astronomy
International recognition of SKA
National coordination of SKA
Why is Telkom concerned?
Conclusions and recommendations
Slide 7
SKA - international recognition
• Radio astronomy is one of many ITU defined services
• Frequency spectrum is allocated to various services;
either exclusively or on a shared basis
• International recognition for stations is given through
notification to ITU (MIFR)
• If outside ITU allocations, notification is for
information only - non conformity assignment
• Non conformity assignment operate on “non–
interference–non–protection basis”
– Will apply to SKA w.r.t international recognition
– SKA receive only, cannot cause interference
Slide 8
SKA – national coordination
• SA has sovereign right w.r.t the use of the radio
frequency spectrum
• Sharing between radio astronomy and other services
can generally be managed
• Radio astronomy services allocated internationally
accepted bands in SA and protected through SATFA
• Frequency bands are shared between services:
– Frequency separation
– Geographic separation
– Mitigation and sharing techniques
Why then are operators concerned with SKA/AGA?
Slide 9
Telkom concerns – general SKA specifics
• Frequency of operation
– 70 MHz to 25 GHz, going far beyond standard radio
astronomy allocations, into communications allocations
‣ Not appropriate, should be applied with discretion
• Sensitivity of SKA
– 50 to 100 times more sensitive than existing astronomy
devices
‣ Mitigation techniques should be applied by SKA to share
coordination burden
• Size of SKA (area)
– Many antenna over very large area
‣ Size of core, central and coordinated areas should be
minimised, particular the size of coordinated area
Slide 10
Astronomy Advantage Areas - example
Slide 11
Telkom concerns – AGA specific issues
• Potential conflicts between AGA and ECA
– Objectives (use of radio frequencies)
– AGA prevail in cases of conflict
– Rights given to Telkom nullified by AGA
‣ Telkom also have obligations to deliver services
• New spectrum management powers
– Minister may declare/designate any area
– Minister may prescribe regulations to managed
spectrum (S.50)
– Management authority – vested interest
‣ Independent body to managed spectrum
(ICASA)
Slide 12
Telkom concerns – AGA specific issues (2)
• Protection of astronomy observations (S.22)
– Prohibit or restrict frequency use in core and central areas
– Conversion of analogue to digital transmissions
– Migration or using alternative technologies
‣ Compensation will be required to implement
‣ Implementation not always practical or possible,
expensive to implement
• Declared activities in core and central areas to cease (S. 23)
– Existing and new systems
‣ Compensation to replace existing systems
‣ Restrictions in service delivery
• Minister may prescribe standards throughout the Republic to
control and minimise interference (S.37)
‣ Potential major operational implications for Telkom –
should be limited to astronomy areas
Slide 13
Telkom concerns – coordinated area
• Identification of activities in coordinated area (S.24)
– Construction, expansion or operations of “fixed radio frequency
interference source”
– Other activities capable of causing radio frequency interference
– Review existing identified activities (S.27)
• Authorisation to undertake identified activity (S.25)
– Minister may prescribe standards and or conditions to undertake
identified activities
– Request for permission to undertake identified activities:
‣ Authority has 60 + 60 days to response to notification
‣ May refuse or grant application
‣ Request an impact assessment report
 Person to be approved by authority, at own expense
• Coordination area should remain under ICASA management
• Size of coordination area should be limited
• Time frames should be shortened (e.g. 30 days)
Slide 14
Conclusions
• This Act, when acceded to and implemented as is, has the
potential to create a win-lose situation in astronomy areas:
– win for radio astronomy and science and
– lose for the communications public
• Ample opportunity for consultation in draft Bill, however, Minister
of Science and Technology will have almost unrestricted power
to decide on all radio and spectrum matters within the three
areas and beyond
• Whereas core and central area interference may be manageable
at a cost, Telkom is very concerned about the restrictions within
the coordinated area
How to create a win-win situation for all?
Slide 15
THANK YOU
Slide 16