World Meteorological Organization &

Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission

(of UNESCO)
JOINT WMO/IOC TECHNICAL COMMISSION FOR JCOMM-5/Doc. 8.3(2)
OCEANOGRAPHY AND MARINE METEOROLOGY Submitted by:
Fifth Session Secretary-General
Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia, 25 to 29 October 2017 1.IX.2017
DRAFT 1

AGENDA ITEM 8: CROSS-CUTTING ACTIVITIES

AGENDA ITEM 8.3: SATELLITE DATA TELECOMMUNICATION

SATELLITE DATA TELECOMMUNICATION

SUMMARY

DECISIONS/ACTIONS REQUIRED:

(a) Adopt draft Decision 8.3(2)/1 Development and publication of Satcom Handbook;

(b) Adopt draft Recommendation 8.3(2)/1 Negotiation of satellite communications tariffs.

CONTENT OF DOCUMENT:

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 JCOMM-5/Doc. 8.3(2), DRAFT 1, p. 2

DRAFT DECISION

Draft Decision 8.3(2)/1 (JCOMM-5)

DEVELOPMENT AND PUBLICATION OF SATCOM HANDBOOK

THE JOINT WMO/IOC TECHNICAL COMMISSION FOR OCEANOGRAPHY AND MARINE

METEOROLOGY,

Recalling Resolution 31 (Cg-17), which established the International Forum of Users of

Satellite Data Telecommunication Systems (Satcom Forum) as a joint effort of both WMO
and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC-UNESCO),

Noting the objective of the Satcom Forum to address remote data communication
requirements for automatic environment observing systems ,

Noting also that the Satcom Forum has developed a draft handbook intended to provide
decision makers within environmental monitoring projects with the information necessary to
evaluate the suitability of the available satellite communications systems on the market
(hereafter referred to as the Satcom Handbook),

Having considered the report and recommendations of Satcom2016 (Madrid, Spain,

September 2016),

Decides to contribute, in collaboration with the Commission for Basic Systems, to the further
development of the Satcom Handbook and supporting Web pages by the Satcom Forum,
paying particular attention to the Satcom requirements of marine meteorological and
oceanographic observing systems;

Invites the Commission for Basic Systems to consider and make arrangements for the
inclusion of the Satcom Handbook as a WMO numbered Guide attached to the Manual on the
WMO Information System (WMO-No. 1060) for the consideration of EC-70 and IOC Council.

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 JCOMM-5/Doc. 8.3(2), DRAFT 1, p. 3

DRAFT RECOMMENDATION

Draft Recommendation 8.3(2)/1 (JCOMM-5)

NEGOTIATION OF SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS TARIFFS

THE JOINT WMO/IOC TECHNICAL COMMISSION FOR OCEANOGRAPHY AND MARINE

METEOROLOGY,

Recalling Resolution 31 (Cg-17), which established the International Forum of Users of

Satellite Data Telecommunication Systems (Satcom Forum) as a joint effort of both WMO
and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC-UNESCO),

Noting Decision 37 (EC-69) that endorsed the elected Satcom Forum Executive Committee
(Satcom-EC), included the chairperson of the Argos Joint Tariff Agreement (JTA) as a
member of the Satcom-EC,

Noting also the objective of the Satcom Forum per its Terms of Reference to address remote
data communication requirements - including tariff negotiations as needed - for automatic
environment observing systems,

Having considered the reports and recommendations of Satcom2016 (Madrid, Spain,

27-29 September 2016), the 14th meeting of the JTA Executive Committee (Abu Dhabi,
24-26 April 2016), the 36th Session of the JTA (La Jolla, USA, 24-26 October 2016), and the
15th meeting of the JTA Executive Committee (Toulouse, France, 18-19 July 2017),

Acknowledging that:

(1) The Satcom Forum has conducted a survey of National Hydrological and
Meteorological Services to estimate their total spend on satellite data
communications airtime and equipment (Satcom-Survey2017),

(2) The JTA provides for an international mechanism to seek for cost-effective location
and data processing of data collected through the Argos system,

(3) There is growing provision from satcom providers of fixed-price satellite data
communication tariffs for environmental monitoring applications,

Recommends to the Executive Councils of WMO and IOC:

(1) To approve the inclusion of JTA as a sub-programme of the Satcom Forum;

(2) To give their authority to the chairperson of the JTA to approve the JTA Argos
Global Tariff Agreement on behalf of WMO and IOC, as negotiated on a yearly basis
within the JTA framework;

Invites the Satcom Forum, based on the results of the Satcom-Survey2017, to pursue, with
Satcom providers, negotiation of a WMO-IOC branded disaster alerting tariff.

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 JCOMM-5/Doc. 8.3(2), DRAFT 1, p. 4

BACKGROUND INFORMATION SUPPORTING

DECISION/RECOMMENDATION
NOT TO BE INCLUDED IN THE SESSION REPORT

References:

1. JCOMM-5/INF. 8.3(2) Satellite Data Telecommunication Handbook

2. Report of Satcom2016

3. Report of the 14th Argos Joint Tariff Agreement (JTA) Executive Committee
meeting, Abu Dhabi, UAE, 24-26 April 2016

4. Report of the 36th Session of JTA, La Jolla, USA, 24-26 October 2016

5. Report of the 15th JTA Executive Committee meeting, Toulouse, France,

18-19 July 2017

6. Satcom-Survey2017 results

Introduction

JCOMM, working with the Commission for Basic Systems, brought together experts from the
satellite data collection systems user and supplier community in the form of ad hoc Satcom
meetings.

In establishing the International Forum of Users of Satellite Data Telecommunication Systems

(Satcom Forum), the World Meteorological Congress at its seventeenth session, (Cg-17,
Geneva, Switzerland, 25 May 12 June 2015), acknowledged the potential benefit to be
gained from establishing a formal international mechanism, covering the wide user base that
exists within both WMO and IOC-UNESCO, to address remote data communication
requirements including tariff negotiations as needed, for automatic observing systems using
satellite data telecommunication systems. Resolution 31 (Cg-17) and Recommendation 9
(CBS-Ext.(2014)) refer.

Given the large number of available satellite data telecommunication systems currently on the
market, the Satcom Forum resolved to provide guidance on how to evaluate those offerings for
environmental monitoring projects. This guidance is provided in the form of a Satcom
Handbook: a combination of published document and complementary Web pages that are
maintained to reflect the changing Satcom market offerings.

Given the remit of the Satcom Forum regarding negotiation of satellite data communications
tariffs, and the recommended use of Argos for many environmental monitoring applications,
there is a significant overlap between the goals of the Satcom Forum and the Argos Joint Tariff
Agreement (JTA) which provides for an international mechanism to seek for cost-effective
location and data processing of data collected through the Argos system. This relationship was
recognised in Decision 37 of EC-69 which decided to include the chairperson of the JTA
Executive Committee within the newly formed Satcom Forum Executive Committee. Further
formalization of this relationship is sought by making JTA a sub-programme of the Satcom
Forum, thereby consolidating tariff negotiation efforts into one place.

Furthermore, the Satcom Forum recognises the importance of satellite data communications in
early warning and disaster alerting systems where remote sensors are used to raise an alarm.
A market survey has been conducted during 2017 to provide a basis for exploring the
 JCOMM-5/Doc. 8.3(2), DRAFT 1, p. 5

development of specific services for this and other purposes, complemented by new tariff
models as necessary.

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