IGF 2020 WS #326 The promises and perils of satellite internet

Information

Session

Thematic Track:

Topic(s):

Business Models
Human Rights
Tech Nationalism

Organizer 1: Civil Society, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Organizer 2: Civil Society, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Organizer 3: Civil Society, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)

Speaker 1: Owono Julie, Civil Society, African Group
Speaker 2: Felicia Anthonio, Civil Society, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 3: Madory Doug, Technical Community, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 4: Jennifer Stein, Government, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)

Format:

Round Table - Circle - 60 Min

Description:

Almost half the world remains offline. Those who do have internet access all too often are forced to choose between expensive data plans offering low-bandwidth mobile connectivity. With marketing plans that trumpet a new solution to bridge these digital divides, satellite internet providers are gaining private equity funding, media attention, and even some government licenses for their speculative, disruptive business plans. I propose a session studying the potential impacts of satellite internet provision in the coming decade, on everything from human rights and digital inclusion to economies, competition, and vertical integration. A host of businesses are developing a new form of satellite communications, largely using relatively lightweight, low earth orbit (LEO) constellations. The industry standard is high orbit, geostationary satellites that beam to and from earth, with high latency. The new LEO constellations, by linking hundreds or thousands of satellites, intend to reduce latency by reducing the distance to earth as well as beaming from one satellite to another. This constant movement of the LEO satellites – a change from the current geostationary model – means they will temporarily pass over countries with less lucrative markets, and worse telecommunications infrastructure. They will move on constant orbits across the sky, enabling providers to reach geographically isolated and underserved areas with consistency. Will this result in better, faster internet service for the billions who remain unconnected? Ambitious firms like SpaceX, Astranis, OneWeb, Viasat, and HughesNet certainly say so. But are they prepared to work with existing providers, platforms, and regulators - not to mention civil societies - in a productive and rights-respecting manner? This session will gather together experts on a diverse array of digital inclusion, telecommunications, and human rights topics to sketch out the bounds of human rights due diligence guidance for the emerging satellite internet sector. We will explore the policies and regulations that could help to prevent and mitigate unintended, adverse impacts of the new technologies and businesses, from spectrum and bidding processes to affordability, privacy, and freedom of expression guarantees. These will be compiled and shared with legal and policy researchers to be polished and then shared for comment with private sector actors and policymakers in the intercessional period before their launch at IGF 2021.

Issues:

The challenges abound. The business plans powering these orbiting satellites remain to be detailed. Rather than directly striking deals with end users, the satellite companies may need to lease space to internet service providers or telecom companies in each of the countries the satellites pass over. ITU-R and other spectrum allocations could come into play, in addition to any domestic telecommunications laws and regulations applicable to satellite frequency bands. The satellite providers could encounter common telecommunications issues, including on the traffic shaping and congestion practices in play, network neutrality, and the costs of peering and leasing arrangements. In addition, user privacy is impacted by the firm’s handling of third party requests for data, and – as evidenced by the rise in internet shutdowns – the provision of internet access to certain communities main run afoul of government policy. Like any ISP or backbone provider, the satellite operator would make decisions impacting human rights, yet it remains unclear whether and how they are preparing to approach such crossroads. There are opportunities and precedents to build on. The satellite sector has organized to improve its response to natural disasters, creating the Crisis Connectivity Charter to streamline its coordination with the humanitarian community. This is a positive development that our initiative will build upon, to enable the sector to better prepare for and respond to human rights crises, as well.

Policy Question(s):

Trust, Media and Democracy Topics: discrimination, internet shutdowns, equitable access Can we theorize new ways of working amongst stakeholders, including governments and ISPs, that avoid the many pitfalls of the legacy telecom sector here on earth, including monopolistic practices, pervasive surveillance, and network disruption and discrimination? Will the satellite sector openly work with our communities to implement such new models of cooperation? The impact of digital sovereignty and Internet fragmentation on trust topics: private sector control, companies largely from WEOG states controlling internet access globally How will governments be able to regulate firms satellite internet firms that largely operate out of a few select countries? Security, stability and resilience of the Internet infrastructure, systems and devices topics: surveillance, integrity of systems Will satellite internet be adequately secured against intrusion, and robust enough to ensure stable bandwidth across geographies?

Expected Outcomes:

All companies can cause or contribute to human rights infringement, including submarine and backhaul cable operators and, I would expect, satellite providers. This session will further an initiative to produce human rights guidance for the emergent satellite internet sector. Civil society has contributed to guidance and built plans for telecom company compliance with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, and adapted the 13 Necessary and Proportionate Principles on government surveillance, among other norms and principles, with implementation guidance for the private sector. To date, we have not seen distributed such recommendations on human rights policies, due diligence, and prevention, mitigation, and remedial strategies for satellite internet operators. This session will help to scope our and build excitement for such guidance.

Relevance to Internet Governance: The terrestrial internet has not yet reached many of the world's communities. New technologies like satellite could help fill the gaps, and in doing so, help to achieve the vision and goal of the internet's governance bodies of a universally accessible internet. However, the satellite sector remains largely unaccountable and unfamiliar to the many stakeholders engaging in social and development struggles, and likely unaware of the norms and processes ensuring the private sector responsibly and equitably meets its duties to respect human rights. In this session, we will sketch a path towards welcoming this stakeholder group to accept its roles and better understand the shared principles, procedures, and rules at play.

Relevance to Theme: An unknown entity is difficult to trust. Governments must trust that the new arrays of satellites across sovereign skies do not post a threat but rather an opportunity for expanding access to information and development. Civil society must trust that even the least fortunate may gain access to these innovative platforms. This session will let civil society, government, and private sector stakeholders understand how this new set of technologies and actors may impact the resilience of the internet's infrastructure, economics, and accessibility. We hope to clarify the concerns and the risks and opportunities that we see for the emerging satellite internet sector, and then approach the firms with the goal of building trust through concrete governance and policy programs.

Discussion Facilitation:

Participants will be given less than 5 minutes for initial remarks, and will be forced to prepare and pose questions to fellow discussants. The moderator will not wait for the end of initial presentations before going to the audience for immediate responses and interventions. The event will be largely 'horizontal' in its approach to the subject matter, not privileging any single stakeholder, speaker, or viewpoint.

Online Participation:

Usage of IGF Official Tool. Additional Tools proposed: We will use the social media and campaigning platform of Access Now and Internet Sans Frontieres to draw attention to the session in months before the event. We will solicit input from the community and present their input during the session. We will also engage our global communities to participate via remote participation during the session.

SDGs:

GOAL 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
GOAL 10: Reduced Inequalities
GOAL 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
GOAL 17: Partnerships for the Goals

Reference Document