Britain's Inmarsat sues Dutch government over 5G switch
UK-based provider Inmarsat has sued the government of the Netherlands after it planned to reallocate crucial infrastructure used for maritime safety services to allow telecoms companies to use spectrum for 5G service.
The company is taking the matter to the civil court to seek an injunction over what it sees as a breach of both national and international law.
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Inmarsat claims the reallocation wasn't necessary as spectrum can easily host both the existing maritime services and 5G connections without interference.
"Spectrum" refers to a set of frequencies used to carry wireless signals.
It claims its services could be jeopardized if the plan goes through as it stands, claiming it has sought an amicable solution to the problem in the past and has accused the Ministry of Economic Affairs of "intransigence" over the stalemate.
In a statement, the company said relocation of its services could cause risks and be associated with high costs.
It added: “Inmarsat wishes to continue safety services from Burum, on which millions of seafarers and aviation passengers and crew depend daily, alongside its commercial operations there.
“However, should a move be forced on Inmarsat, then the proposed timing of the changeover in frequency use in the NFP is unrealistic and will require a long transitional term to carry out the wholly avoidable move.”
An Inmarsat spokesperson claims the company only use 25% of the 3.5 GHz spectrum for its platforms, which would easily allow for 5G services to share the frequencies.
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The company has operated the so-called "big ears" in the north of the country for decades. The Burum facility acts as a centre for maritime safety for the adjoining waters, provided free-of-charge.
The company claims as many as 2 million seafarers are supported by the site.
Giving the wireless operators full use of the frequencies may force Inmarsat to use Burum as a ground station for its services on top of the platforms it already provides.
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