Legal issues of constructing international telecom systems : satellites and cables

This article focuses on the regulations and instruments\u3cbr/\u3eused in, the implementation of specific international telecommunication\u3cbr/\u3econnection, i.e., submarine cable and satellite\u3cbr/\u3esystems. It concentrates on the legal setting for legislating/\u3cbr/\u3eregulating, international public telecommunication systems,\u3cbr/\u3enamely, those systems to which the general public has access\u3cbr/\u3eafter paying a fee to the owners of a telecommunication\u3cbr/\u3efacility. These systems provide the public with telecommunication\u3cbr/\u3eservices, such as telephone, telex and data communication\u3cbr/\u3eservices. No attention will be given to the regulation of\u3cbr/\u3eprivate international telecommunication facilities (SWIFT or\u3cbr/\u3eSITA). Legal arrangements applying to satellite systems differ\u3cbr/\u3econsiderably from those applying to submarine cables and\u3cbr/\u3ecommon concepts will be presented to bridge the gap between\u3cbr/\u3ethese two different domains. In that sense an overall analysis\u3cbr/\u3eof what used to be separate areas of law will be developed .\u3cbr/\u3eThis can be achieved by distinguishing three issues: (i) allocation\u3cbr/\u3eof resources; (ii) interconnection between systems; (iii)\u3cbr/\u3ethe legal instruments used in the construction phase. This\u3cbr/\u3edistinction enables potential users of (commercial) space\u3cbr/\u3etelecommunications to compare both regulatory regimes, and\u3cbr/\u3edecide which type of connection is, from a legal point of view,\u3cbr/\u3emost effective in achieving the users' goal: Constructing a\u3cbr/\u3esatellite telecommunication system or opt for the construction\u3cbr/\u3eof a submarine cable connection