OW31: Spectrum Slaps, Lunar Leases and Maritime Maybes

Center Stage

Viasat, the ITU, and the Art of Getting Slapped in Public

Let’s be honest. When Viasat strutted into Geneva hoping for a little love from the ITU, a quick nod to extend those juicy Ka-band rights, it didn’t expect to get smacked in the diplomatic face with a cold, regulatory “no.” Yet here we are. The company’s carefully laid plans to control spectrum at 28.2 degrees West just got tossed in the bureaucratic recycling bin by an agency not known for impulsivity. This is a full-blown reminder that spectrum squatting has its limits, especially when your business model relies on keeping satellite real estate you haven’t fully developed or launched on.

This was supposed to be Viasat’s “hold the line” moment, the kind of frequency chess game that veteran operators win with a few polite letters, some regulatory grease, and a sly grin. Instead, the ITU reminded everyone that delaying deployments while others wait in line can come with a price. Imagine organizing a picnic on public land, never showing up with food, then being shocked when someone else lays out their blanket.