Sign In
APEC Project Database

Back to Top

Project Title

Expanding Broadband Access through Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) Satellite Communication Systems: Toolkit and Workshop

Project Year

2024

Project Number

TELWG_101_2024A

Project Session

Session 1

Project Type

Standard

Project Status

Completed Project
View Budget TableView Budget Table
PrintPrint

Project No.

TELWG_101_2024A

Project Title

*
Expanding Broadband Access through Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) Satellite Communication Systems: Toolkit and Workshop

Project Status

Completed Project

Fund Account

*
APEC Support Fund

Sub-fund

ASF: Digital Innovation

Project Year

2024

Project Session

*
Session 1

APEC Funding

95,020

Co-funding Amount

60,000

Total Project Value

155,020

Sponsoring Forum

*
Telecommunications and Information Working Group (TELWG)

Topics

Telecommunications; Digital Economy

Committee

SOM Steering Committee on Economic and Technical Cooperation (SCE)

Other Fora Involved

Digital Economy Steering Group (DESG)

Other Non-APEC Stakeholders Involved

 

Proposing Economy(ies)

United States

Co-Sponsoring Economies

Australia; Mexico; Papua New Guinea; Philippines; Chinese Taipei

Expected Start Date

01/08/2024

Expected Completion Date

28/02/2025

Project Proponent Name 1

Jai Nair / Ann Katsiak

Job Title 1

Multilateral Engagement Officer / Chief of Party, US-SEGA Project

Organization 1

U.S. Department of State / Cadmus Group

Telephone 1

+1 202 341 7184 / +1 703 516 7743

Email 1

NairJL@state.gov / Ann.Katsiak@cadmusgroup.com

Project Proponent Name 2

Not Applicable

Job Title 2

Not Applicable

Organization 2

Not Applicable

Telephone 2

Not Applicable

Email 2

Not Applicable

Declaration

Jai Nair

Project Summary

Building on the August 2023 TELWG workshop on Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) Satellite Communication Systems, this project will provide policymakers and regulatory officials from member economies the opportunity to dive deeper into the legal and regulatory environments regarding LEO services, building an understanding of the stakeholders and issues involved in approval and implementation of LEO satellite services for expanding broadband access to regions and communities with low connectivity across the APEC region. The project will begin with research to identify the legal and regulatory considerations economies could take into account for LEO and emerging lessons from economies currently in various stages of deployment or pre deployment. This will culminate in a workshop which will further these discussions, presenting these lessons to APEC policymakers, and other interested stakeholders who wish to explore LEO system options and the necessary digital infrastructure for increasing broadband internet access and expanding access across sectors of the economy.

Relevance

Region
Approximately thirty nine percent of the total population in the APEC region still lacks reliable access to the internet. LEO satellite technology is an alternative to traditional broadband services that has the potential to narrow the digital divide and increase broadband internet access in underserved areas and communities, ultimately providing sustained economic benefits to communities across many APEC economies. APEC economies will benefit from a framework that details the opportunities and challenges that arise when implementing LEO satellite technology, allowing economies to understand the regulatory framework needed to utilize this technology to expand broadband access.

Eligibility and Fund Priorities
This project aligns with the Digital Innovation Sub-fund’s ultimate objective of supporting inclusive, integrated, and sustainable growth as it focuses on bridging the digital divide and increasing the capacity to participate in the digital economy. This project also aligns with the AIDER as described above, which is another criteria for accessing the Digital Innovation Sub-fund. This project ensures participation from a broad range of stakeholders including regulators, the civil society, and the private sector. Specifically, it links to the roadmap’s key areas of focus including development of digital infrastructure and achievement of universal broadband access.

Capacity Building
The Outcomes Report will include a comparative assessment of opportunities and challenges across economies, the knowledge exchange by practitioners in diverse economies who have already implemented LEO satellite broadband access, and recommendations and models to equip economies’ regulators and policymakers with a clear understanding of the landscape of stakeholders across policy and regulatory bodies, civil society, and private sector firms, and likely challenges and the steps that could be followed to secure support for implementing policy and regulatory actions to authorize and implement LEO satellite broadband access. This project targets APEC economies that have shared interest in additional capacity building in this space from the August 2023 workshop. Given that the workshop is regional, all developing economies will have the opportunity to benefit and specific travel funding will be offered to eligible economies to ensure relevant experts can attend from these economies where possible.

Objectives

The objective of the project is to equip policymakers, regulators, and civil society stakeholders with a framework for proposing and implementing needed regulatory or other changes in an economy to allow LEO satellite services to offer broadband internet access to underserved areas and communities. This capacity building project focuses on developing the needed digital infrastructure across the APEC region, while also promoting cooperation on regulatory approaches, to expand broadband access. This project will also invite the private sector to be part of the regulatory discussion to advance policy frameworks that promote effective integration of LEO satellite services into economies’ ICT sectors.

Alignment

APEC
This project aligns with the APEC Putrajaya Vision 2040 and the economic driver on innovation and digitalization to “empower… people and businesses to participate and grow in an interconnected global economy.” It also aligns with the APEC Internet and Digital Economy Roadmap (AIDER) which recognizes that “broadband access has become the fundamental building block for the development of the Internet and Digital economy, and this means ubiquitous, affordable, and universal access.” In facilitating the sharing of lessons learned on implementing LEO satellite technology, this project aligns with the following key areas of focus of the AIDER: promoting interoperability; developing holistic government policy frameworks for the Internet and Digital Economy; promote coherence and cooperation of regulatory approaches affecting the Internet and Digital Economy; and promoting innovation and adoption of enabling technologies and services. Finally, it supports Peru 2024 host year priorities, particularly, innovation and digitalization to promote transition to the formal and global economy.

Forum
The project aligns with Objective 1 (“Promotion of the deployment of telecommunications/ICT infrastructure … to support increased access to broadband and ICT services across the APEC region”) of the then-ICT Development Steering Group section of the TEL Strategic Action Plan 2021-2025 (SAP), particularly Action 1.2 (“Exchange information and share best practices on the deployment of alternative solutions to provide access…”); as well as Objective 2 (Promotion of resilience of critical ICT infrastructure”) of the then-Security and Prosperity Steering Group in the SAP.

Beneficiaries and Outputs

Outputs

1) Outcomes Report: The Outcomes Report will include research on the legal and regulatory frameworks relevant and conducive to deploying Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite services across various APEC economies. It will analyze existing policies, regulations, and legal structures impacting LEO satellite deployment, incorporating case studies and experiences from economies at different stages of deployment or pre-deployment to extract lessons learned, best practices, and challenges faced. The scope includes identifying key regulatory considerations, such as domestic spectrum allocation, licensing requirements, market access regulations, and interoperability standards, while also examining the evolving nature of these considerations in light of technological advancements and changing market dynamics. The research will be conducted through online research and interviews with experts in the field. The Outcomes Report will also summarize the workshop and its discussion and recommendations. The minimum number of pages excluding annexes will be 20 pages and will cover examples from the region of regulatory frameworks and emerging practices by economy, while also highlighting cases that might exist in other instances. This will be the self funded part of the activity and undertaken by a technical firm or individual.

2) Capacity Building Workshop: The one-day, in-person, APEC-wide capacity building workshop, to be scheduled alongside a TEL meeting, provides a platform for in-depth discussions on the findings and recommendations outlined in the Outcomes Report, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange among policymakers, regulators, industry experts, and civil society representatives. It will focus on accelerating adoption of broadband access through satellite options. Through targeted presentations, panel discussions, and interactive sessions, participants will have the opportunity to delve into key regulatory considerations, emerging best practices, and innovative solutions for harnessing LEO satellite technology to bridge the digital divide and drive socio-economic development within the APEC region. The Workshop will include discussion of increasing female participation in decision-making related to LEO satellite service policy and regulatory environment, including sharing of economies’ best practices in this field.

Outcomes
1) Enhanced understanding: By bringing together APEC members to engage in peer-to-peer learning, policymakers, regulators, and stakeholders will gain a deeper understanding of the legal, regulatory, and technical considerations surrounding the authorization and deployment of LEO satellite services in APEC economies. They will exchange insights, lessons learned, and best practices, fostering a more informed approach to policy development and implementation that can build on effective practices already demonstrated in other APEC economies.

2) Strengthened Policy Frameworks: The Outcomes Report will provide evidence-based recommendations for refining and adapting policy frameworks to support the deployment of LEO satellite services to address digital connectivity and development needs. The workshop and Outcomes Report will equip policymakers with actionable insights to develop and implement policies that promote broadband access and digital inclusion across diverse sectors of the economy.

3) Intersectoral Collaboration: The Outcomes Report and workshop will foster collaboration among stakeholders from government, industry, academia, and civil society. By bringing together diverse perspectives and expertise, stakeholders collaborate on innovative solutions, partnerships, and initiatives aimed at accelerating the adoption of broadband access through satellite options and advancing digital inclusion goals within the APEC region. The end of workshop evaluation forms will also highlight intersectoral and international collaboration and cooperation.

4) International Regulatory Cooperation: Insights shared during the workshop will inform the development of policies, regulations, and standards related to the implementation of LEO satellite broadband access in underserved areas. These discussions could lead to alignment and/or compatibility of policies and regulations across multiple APEC economies, which could enable future scenarios allowing users of LEO satellite services to access services in multiple economies, opening up new business models for innovators and firms that use LEO satellite services across multiple economies.

Beneficiaries
Participation will be invited from TELWG members and interested non-members (agreed by economies), members of other relevant APEC forums (see “Linkages” below), industry participants and representatives, civil society organizations working to advance broadband access, and other interested parties from APEC economies. The project will be implemented to solicit examples and inputs from multiple APEC economies with diverse circumstances and broadband penetration and utilization in order to draw lessons that will be potentially broadly applicable across APEC economies. Additionally, this project targets the gender divide equality as reliable access to Internet is an effective way to empower girls and women. LEO satellite service expansion has the potential to be a transformative tool for connecting the unconnected, which disproportionately includes women, and can serve as a key tool in linking with the connectivity-unserved and underserved communities around the world.

Dissemination

The target audience of the workshop outputs includes regulators, government officials, and private sector stakeholders focused on digitalization, telecommunications, and satellite technology. The Outcomes Report will be submitted to the Secretariat for APEC publication consideration. The detailed report summarizing key findings and recommendations will be disseminated to the target audience via APEC’s social media channels, the APEC website, and direct email distribution to member economies.

Gender

Please see Project Proposal in Supporting Documents folder.

Work Plan

Please see Project Proposal in Supporting Documents folder.

Risks

Please see Project Proposal in Supporting Documents folder.

Monitoring and Evaluation

Please see Project Proposal in Supporting Documents folder.

Linkages

This project will build on the information exchanged during the U.S.-sponsored workshop “Low-Earth Orbit Satellite Technology Alternatives to Increase Connectivity for Rural and Remote Communities” on the margins of the TEL67 meetings in Seattle Washington, August 2023, and will be informed by the results of the Ex-post feedback forms conducted under that project. Other APEC stakeholders, including members of the Digital Economy Steering Group (DESG), Policy Partnership on Science, Technology, and Innovation (PPSTI), Emergency Preparedness Working Group (EPWG), Policy Partnership on Women and the Economy (PPWE), ABAC, and International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) will be invited to contribute to the research, workshop, and recommendations and the Outcomes Report to highlight how increased broadband access can advance the objectives of other APEC forums.

Sustainability

The effectiveness of the LEO workshop will be assessed based on how APEC economies utilize and leverage the key messages, shared experiences, and findings from the workshop and outcomes report. Requests for follow-on capacity building assistance will be monitored. Feedback forms distributed at the workshop's closing will serve as the principal mechanism for evaluating outputs and outcomes. Participants will rate the relevance of workshop topics and approaches to their job responsibilities and their potential to apply new concepts or ideas to their daily work. The Project Overseers will compile and summarize this feedback for review by members, ensuring continuous improvement and informing future initiatives

Direct Labour

Not Applicable.

Are there any supporting document attached?

Yes
Project No.
Project Title
Project Status
Fund Account
Sub-fund
Project Year
Project Session
APEC Funding
Co-funding Amount
Total Project Value
Sponsoring Forum
Topics
Committee
Other Fora Involved
Other Non-APEC Stakeholders Involved
Proposing Economy(ies)
Co-Sponsoring Economies
Expected Start Date
Expected Completion Date
Project Proponent Name 1
Job Title 1
Organization 1
Telephone 1
Email 1
Project Proponent Name 2
Job Title 2
Organization 2
Telephone 2
Email 2
Declaration
Project Summary
Relevance
Objectives
Alignment
Beneficiaries and Outputs
Dissemination
Gender
Work Plan
Risks
Monitoring and Evaluation
Linkages
Sustainability
Direct Labour
Are there any supporting document attached?
hdFldAdmin
Project Number
Previous Fora
Secretariat Comments
Reprogramming Notes
Consolidated QAF
Endorsement By Fora
PD Sign Off
Batch
Forum Priority
Committee Ranking Category
Committee Priority
PDM Priority
Priority Within Funding Category
Monitoring Report Received
Completion Report Received
PMU Field 1
PMU Field 2
PMU Field 3
On Behalf Of
Proposal Status
Originating Sub-Forum
Approval Status
Attachments
Content Type: Standard Proposal
© Copyright APEC Secretariat. All Rights Reserved.