Page 62 - SAMENA Trends - June-July 2025

ARTICLE SAMENA TRENDS

ARTICLE

Harmonizing MSS Spectrum in the GCC: Strategic

Imperatives Ahead of WRC-27

As digital transformation accelerates across emerging markets, the convergence of
terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks has brought the strategic importance of Mobile
Satellite Services (MSS) spectrum into sharp focus. In an increasingly interconnected
world, where emergency response systems, remote IoT ecosystems, and resilient
broadband networks are not luxuries but necessities, spectrum allocation becomes
a policy-defining issue. Specifically, the MSS bands—1980–2010 MHz (uplink) and
2170–2200 MHz (downlink)—represent one of the most critical spectrum assets in
this evolution.

Within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), these bands offer more than operational
utility; they serve as a foundational platform for regional digital cohesion, economic
transformation, and sovereign technological capability.

Across the region, recent national policy directions
demonstrate strong recognition of MSS as a central

component of broader Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) Dr. Mustafa AYKUT
strategies. Spectrum planning initiatives increasingly Director, Programs & Public Policy
highlight MSS under strategic pillars such as unlocking SAMENA Telecommunications
Council
satellite spectrum for commercial and innovative use.

Across the region, recent national policy directions demonstrate strong recognition
of MSS as a central component of broader Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) strategies.
Spectrum planning initiatives increasingly highlight MSS under strategic pillars such as
unlocking satellite spectrum for commercial and innovative use. In some jurisdictions,
regulators have already allocated spectrum, for instance, in the 2.1 GHz band, for MSS
and Air-to-Ground (ATG) services, underscoring a concrete regulatory commitment to
fostering next-generation satellite-terrestrial convergence.

As the next World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-27) approaches, the
opportunity and the obligation to act in concert on spectrum harmonization has never
been more urgent.

The evolution toward 5G-NTN brings MSS spectrum
to the center of hybrid connectivity strategies. Unlike Dr. Sherif R. Sherif
traditional terrestrial 5G, NTN seeks to extend coverage Senior Strategist
using space-based infrastructure, such as Low Earth Omantel
Orbit (LEO) satellites, Medium Earth Orbit (MEO)
systems, or High-Altitude Platforms (HAPs), and
AI-enabled network orchestration.

62 JUNE-JULY 2025