Satellite Services

Provision of satellite services

Companies intending to provide satellite telecommunications services in Iceland must register with ECOI.
ECC decisions on the use of the frequency spectrum, incl. for satellite communications, are implemented by publication in the Icelandic Table of Frequency Allocation (NTFA).

Satellite filing

Frequencies that satellite companies wish to use in their operations must be filed with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
ECOI handles such filings on behalf of Iceland. The processing of filing applications at ECOI is subject to Regulation on filing of satellite frequencies no. 305/2019.

Applicants for filings must be a registered company in Iceland, but may be headquartered in another state, provided that the further conditions set out in the Regulation are met.
According to the regulation, ECOI may entrust qualified parties with carrying out certain task regarding satellite filings. Such entity shall have extensive experience in satellite filings and shall have the technical and financial capacity to perform such a task in an efficient and reliable manner. With reference to the regulation, ECOI has entered into a co-operation agreement with the company ManSat, which has decades of experience in the field of satellite filing. ManSat's subsidiary, IceSat ehf., handles the project; and companies requesting filings are asked to contact IceSat ehf.

All filings are subject to the final approval of ECOI.
Satellite filings at the ITU are subject to the provisions of the International Radio Regulations and ITU-R Rules of Procedure.

ECOI has issued procedural rules on filing applications.

Earth stations

Satellite earth stations are subject to a license, cf. Article 62 Act on Electronic Communications no. 81/2003.
Apply for a license: Application form
The annual fee for the operation of an earth station is ISK 25,100, - according to Article 22 Act on Telecommunications Administration no. 75/2021.