{"id":349,"date":"2025-02-11T21:00:49","date_gmt":"2025-02-11T21:00:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/160\/?page_id=349"},"modified":"2025-04-30T14:40:52","modified_gmt":"2025-04-30T14:40:52","slug":"using-space-responsibly","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/160\/vision\/using-space-responsibly\/","title":{"rendered":"Using space responsibly"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n \"Background\n
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Using space responsibly<\/h2>\n <\/div>\n
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\n With the number of satellites in space surging, ensuring the long-term sustainability of the orbital environment has never been more critical. ITU builds on a long legacy in managing radio frequency bands for space services and offers forward-looking solutions. <\/h3>\n

\n Space is more than the next frontier. It is home to satellites from 91 countries that provide services to billions of people. Among those services are agriculture, banking, transportation, emergency telecommunications, climate insights, and more.

The world’s space economy is growing at 9% a year, and is projected to reach USD $1.9 trillion by 2035. Those operating in space include national space agencies, international space initiatives, private satellite operators and even space tourism ventures. <\/p>\n <\/div>\n

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Paradox: Infinite sky, finite resources<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\n The seeming vastness of space around the Earth is filling up fast. As demand for global connectivity grows, the number of satellites is expected to triple in the next six years, compared to the past 60.<\/strong>

Because satellite operations rely on a finite resource\u2014specific frequency bands within the radio spectrum to communicate with their associated earth stations or other satellites\u2014the rapid increase in activity heightens the risk of radio interference between services, making regulatory oversight more complex and essential. In this context, space sustainability is becoming increasingly critical to ensure fair and efficient access to radio spectrum and orbital resources. <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n\n\n

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\n ITU\u2019s legacy and role in ensuring space sustainability <\/h3>\n

\n ITU builds on a rich legacy to ensure rational, equitable, efficient and economical access to radio-frequency spectrum<\/strong> by all radiocommunication services, including space services. The 4000-page Radio Regulations<\/a>, which ITU developed over a century ago and is continuously updated, serves as the foundation to guide satellite operations.

Today, ITU provides certainty for space sustainability as it:
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