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SES Satellite Leasing Limited
AT
Carnane, Upper Howe, Old Castletown Road DOUGLAS IM4 1AB
Planning Application Supporting Statement
DATE: 2nd December 2019 PREPARED BY:
Dr.-Ing. Richard K. Arning SES Satellite Leasing Limited
The aim of this document is to provide the necessary background to explain why SES Satellite Leasing Limited ("SES SL") is applying for planning permission to have a permanently installed satellite broadcast uplink antenna at Greenlight House in Tromode, rather a mobile antenna temporarily erected and dismantled.
SES Satellite Leasing Limited ("SES SL") is an Isle of Man-based affiliate of the Luxembourgbased SES S.A., the Group ("SES"). SES is the world-leading satellite operator, providing reliable and secure satellite communication solutions to broadcast, telecom, corporate and government customers worldwide. SES owns and operates an expanding fleet of currently 50 satellites in Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) and 20 in Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) for two key business units: SES Video and SES Networks. These 70 satellites that are complemented by a network of earth stations and offices located around the globe. This far-reaching infrastructure enables its customers to reach of the world's population and places SES at the heart of the global communications chain and satellite transmission for TV broadcasting including the British Isles.
SES SL, founded in 2004 on the Isle of Man, is a fully operative entity including own local engineering skills, and has recently been awarded several licenses, including: UK launch licenses, a license to provide satellite filing services on behalf of the Communications Commission, multiple licences by the Communications Commission and Ofcom to operate "radio transmitting and/or receiving stations as satellite permanent earth station" and has subsequently invested into a multi-million teleport with several satellite earth stations at Carnane / Douglas Head.
Having been awarded the contract in a consortium with Greenlight TV and Duke to facilitate the TV broadcasts for the TT Motorbike Races, SES SL has invested into a 'Life Playout Facility' located at the TV production premises of Greenlight TV in Tromode. This Playout
Facility within the building needs an outdoor satellite antenna to uplink the broadcast programming. SES SL has temporarily installed such an antenna for which it holds an Ofcom license for a "transportable earth station" (Annex 1).
Unobstructed line of sight to the respective SES satellites Astra 23.5E and Astra 28.2E, as well as the immediate proximity to the TV production and Playout at Greenlight House, determine the location on the private premises of Greenlight TV in Tromode.
The 'Link Budget' calculation based on low power levels and the northern latitude of the Isle of Man requires a larger satellite dish, here 2.6 m in diameter. While the temporally installed antenna has been up for approximately six months, the sheer size and weight makes it difficult to be dismantled and re-erected every time it is needed for the TT broadcasts (to ITV and international channels) or other TV playouts produced by Greenlight TV which are contracted on an ad-hoc basis. The mounting-dismounting and transport procedure further risks damaging the precision alignment of the antenna reflector.
Hence to become a viable facility and operation for Greenlight TV and SES SL, supporting not just the TT races but the growth of their broadcast businesses, a permanently available installation is mandatory. Planning permission is requested, at least until the end of the contractual period for the TT and Classic broadcasts, end of 2022.
The premises of Greenlight TV are in a cul-de-sac in the Business Park of Tromode. Together with other businesses the area already forms a small 'Media Cluster' of Greenlight TV, Greenlight International, Duke Video, Energy FM and Mannin Group. It is natural to expect (satellite) antennas in such a media and broadcast focussed industry environment.
The satellite antenna subject of this application is situated behind a growing hedge, looking away from the street as shown in the photographs of Annex 4. Its reflector (dish) is coloured in a similar off-white as the building. The antenna beam emitted, points at the named satellites in sky, highly above the parking area on the backside of Greenlight House.
The antenna is subject to an Ofcom license granted which limits its radiating power. It is an industrial state of the art-antenna and hence compliant to the respective European Standard (Annex 3: ICNIRP Conformity Statement).
Being operated (switched on) only when needed, procedures are in place with Ofcom to ensure no frequency interference with other services can occur, e.g. flight safety (Annex 2). When in use, there are temporary safety barriers erected around the antenna with appropriate signage.
The antenna foundations are totally hidden underground as shown in the attached drawings. The antenna mounting pole is bolted to the foundations and is designed to be removed, if required. The foundation is recessed below ground level and a manhole cover is used to protect them and make safe when the antenna is not installed. The same foundation will be used for the permanent installation.
Physically constraint to operate the satellite broadcast uplink antenna next to the TV production and playout at Greenlight House, and the view angles to the respective satellites given, the size of the antenna and its location were determined as described in this application. The visual impact to the general public is mitigated by the location in a Media Business Park area in a cul-de-sac, its location behind a growing hedge, the off-white colour of the antenna matching the building, and the antenna foundation being underground. Clearly needed as a fixed installation at minimum for the next 3 years to fulfil the contractual obligation to the Isle of Man Government for the TT and Classic TT broadcasts until end of 2022 safely, the new broadcast uplink antenna benefits the Isle of Man economy beyond the TT Races. Therefore, the design proposed represents both the optimum planning/environmental and technical solution in this instance. As such, SES SL believes the development as proposed is in accordance with planning guidance as defined above and will benefit the economic growth of the island.
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