International Telecommunication Union (ITU): New Rules Crucial to Manage Congestion and Prevent Collapse of Space Economy
SDG 9: Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure | SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
Institutions: Ministry of External Affairs | Department of Space (ISRO) | TRAI
An analysis from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) highlights that the rapid development of multi-orbital satellite constellations (where “more means better” for connectivity) is creating enormous challenges for the long-term sustainability of the space environment. The most pressing task is to ensure efficient use of limited radio frequency spectrum and orbital resources, as congestion will soon become the main obstacle to unrestricted use of outer space.
The report notes a “regulatory void” exists, with the growth of the private sector (like mega-constellation operators) and new space-faring nations outpacing existing international regulations. This lack of global rules complicates crucial needs like collision avoidance and international coordination on spectrum use. The ITU is actively conducting technical studies to strengthen space sustainability, particularly focusing on mitigating interference between Non-Geostationary Orbit (NGSO) systems.
Beyond spectrum, the ITU emphasizes the urgent need for new clear and agreed-upon rules for space traffic management and debris removal, arguing that these issues can only be solved through impartial international organizations working alongside sovereign states and the private sector.
To manage the “more means better” dilemma, ITU has launched studies to draft practical recommendations: a handbook on space sustainability, a recommendation for end-of-life removal of NGSO satellites, and technical measures for interference mitigation.
This report calls on India’s space agencies (like ISRO) and regulatory bodies to actively engage with the ITU-R to co-develop the essential technical and regulatory mechanisms for frequency and orbit coordination, safeguarding India’s own growing satellite assets and ensuring equitable access to space resources for all nations.
What is NGSO? → Non-Geotationary Satellites (i.e. in low or medium Earth orbits). Because they move, they require more coordination on trajectories, spectrum sharing, and collision avoidance.
Follow the full news here: https://www.itu.int/hub/2025/09/sustainable-space-satellites-need-harmonized-spectrum-and-more/