Maritime mobile-satellite service

MMSS Inmarsat-3 satellite locations

Maritime mobile-satellite service (short: MMSS; also: maritime mobile-satellite radiocommunication service) is – according to Article 1.29 of the International Telecommunication Union´s (ITU) Radio Regulations (RR)^[1] – defined as «A mobile-satellite service in which mobile earth stations are located on board ships; survival craft stations and emergency position-indicating radiobeacon stations may also participate in this service».

See also

Classification

This radiocommunication service is classified in accordance with ITU Radio Regulations (article 1) as follows:
Mobile service

• Maritime mobile service (article 1.28)
  • Maritime mobile-satellite service
  • Port operations service (article 1.30)
  • Ship movement service (article 1.31)

Frequency allocation

The allocation of radio frequencies is provided according to Article 5 of the ITU Radio Regulations (edition 2012).^[2]

In order to improve harmonisation in spectrum utilisation, the majority of service-allocations stipulated in this document were incorporated in national Tables of Frequency Allocations and Utilisations which is with-in the responsibility of the appropriate national administration. The allocation might be primary, secondary, exclusive, and shared.

• primary allocation: is indicated by writing in capital letters
• secondary allocation: is indicated by small letters
• exclusive or shared utilization: is within the responsibility of administrations

Example of frequency allocation

Allocation to services
Region 1	Region 2	Region 3
137–137.025 SPACE OPERATION (space-to-Earth) METEOROLOGICAL-SATELLITE (space-to-Earth) MOBILE-SATELLITE (space-to-Earth) SPACE RESEARCH (space-to-Earth) Fixed Mobile except aeronautical mobile (R)

Selection of MMSS stations

• 

  Space radio station, Inmarsat-3 satellite

• 

  Earth station, telephone terminal

• 

  Inmarsat aerial (stern of the yacht)

• 

  Inmarsat aerial of the US Navy

• 

  Hand-held radios of the MMSS

• 

  Inmarsat satellite telephone

References / sources

1. ITU Radio Regulations, Section IV. Radio Stations and Systems – Article 1.29, definition: maritime mobile service / maritime mobile radiocommunication service
2. ITU Radio Regulations, CHAPTER II – Frequencies, ARTICLE 5 Frequency allocations, Section IV – Table of Frequency Allocations

• International Telecommunication Union (ITU)