Regulatory uncertainty in some EU states risks hindering European S-band service provider Solaris Mobile’s future commercial success, a spokeswoman for the company said today.
Solaris Mobile, a JV between SES and Eutelsat, was selected along with…
Regulatory uncertainty in some EU states risks hindering European S-band service provider Solaris Mobile’s future commercial success, a spokeswoman for the company said today.
Solaris Mobile, a JV between SES and Eutelsat, was selected along with Inmarsat by the European Commission in 2009 to provide pan-European broadband services by May this year.
Although Solaris Mobile is confident of its own ability to meet EC requirements, the competency for authorisation of S-band MSS lies with the 27 EU states.
“To date, Solaris Mobile has been granted 18 year licences to operate mobile satellite services in 11 EU countries, however, only six of these licences comprise authorisations covering both the MSS and the complementary ground component element,” she said in an emailed statement.
“Solaris Mobile continues to progress on acquiring and consolidating rights with subsequent EU countries for the remaining licenses, and will act in compliance with national regimes as soon as they are put in place. Several member states have yet to establish their national framework for authorising these services.
“The regulatory uncertainty surrounding the remaining national authorisation licences, the varying interpretations and implementation procedures and the delay by member states in adopting such measures unnecessarily raises the operational risk profile, which may hinder Solaris Mobile’s continued commercial success.”
The EC’s Digital Agenda VP Neelie Kroes expressed concern on 17 February that 21 EU states risk missing its satellite broadband deadline.
Kroes called on the governments of these countries, ranging from Belgium to the UK, to accelerate legislative processes to ensure they meet the pan-European broadband agreement.
“Member states should urgently take all measures necessary to allow the introduction of mobile satellite services throughout the EU,” she said.
“Mobile satellite services have an important role to play in providing innovative services to businesses and citizens across Europe, including in rural or remote areas, and in meeting our Digital Agenda targets of making broadband available to everyone in Europe.”
According to the EC, the member states that still have legal uncertainties and a lack of sufficient implementation measures are: Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and the UK.
Speaking to analysts after posting full year 2010 results, Romain Bausch, president and CEO of SES, which owns half of Solaris alongside Eutelsat, said: “Solaris has got licences from most of the large countries but for many of the other countries there are still things to be done.”
Bausch continued: “Solaris is exploring with potential investors the terrestrial part of it, which is the next step in the development of its services. Solaris is investing and will only invest in the space segment and will form a partnership with terrestrial operators who are interested in using the frequency band on the ground alongside the satellite.”
Inmarsat did not reply to requests for comment before the press deadline.
