{"id":"F2025L00260","name":"Radiocommunications (Foreign Space Objects) Determination 2025","slug":"radiocommunications-foreign-space-objects-determination-2025","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":106075,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2025L00260-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Name","content":"#### 1 Name\n\n  This is the Radiocommunications (Foreign Space Objects) Determination 2025.","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"2","sectionType":"section","heading":"Commencement","content":"#### 2 Commencement\n\n  This instrument commences at the start of the day after the day it is registered on the Federal Register of Legislation.\n\n> Note: The Federal Register of Legislation is available, free of charge, at www.legislation.gov.au.","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"3","sectionType":"section","heading":"Authority","content":"#### 3 Authority\n\n  This instrument is made under paragraph 16(1)(ca) of the Act.","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"4","sectionType":"section","heading":"Repeal","content":"#### 4 Repeal\n\n  The Radiocommunications (Foreign Space Objects) Determination 2014 (F2014L01584) is repealed.","sortOrder":3},{"sectionNumber":"5","sectionType":"section","heading":"Interpretation","content":"#### 5 Interpretation\n\n  In this instrument, unless the contrary intention appears:\n  class licence means the Radiocommunications (Communication with Space Object) Class Licence 2025, as in force from time to time.\n\n> Note 1: For references to Commonwealth Acts, see section 10 of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901; and see also subsection 13(1) of the Legislation Act 2003 for the application of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 to legislative instruments.\n\n> Note 2: A number of other expressions used in this instrument are defined in the Act, including the following:\n\n    (a) Australia;\n    (b) foreign space object;\n    (c) radio emission;\n    (d) space object.\n\n> Note 3: Other expressions used in this instrument may be defined in a determination made under subsection 64(1) of the Australian Communications and Media Authority Act 2005, that applies to this instrument, including the following:\n\n    (a) Act;\n    (b) space station;\n    (c) station.","sortOrder":4},{"sectionNumber":"6","sectionType":"section","heading":"Application of Act outside Australia — foreign space objects operating in frequency range mentioned in class licence","content":"#### 6 Application of Act outside Australia — foreign space objects operating in frequency range mentioned in class licence\n\n  The Act applies outside Australia in relation to a foreign space object if:\n    (a) the foreign space object is owned, controlled or operated by or for a corporation mentioned in column 2 of an item in Schedule 1; and\n    (b) a space station on the foreign space object is operating in a frequency range mentioned in paragraph 8(a) or (b) of the class licence to transmit radio emissions to, or receive radio emissions from, a station inside Australia.\n\n> Note: Under section 5 of the Act, a foreign space object is defined to mean a space object (also defined in section 5 of the Act) that is not an Australian space object. An Australian space object is defined in section 5 to mean a space object that the ACMA, by legislative instrument, determines to be an Australian space object for the purposes of the Act (see the Radiocommunications (Australian Space Objects) Determination 2025).","sortOrder":5},{"sectionNumber":"Schedule 1 Owners, controllers or operat","sectionType":"section","heading":"Schedule 1 Owners, controllers or operators of foreign space objects operating in a frequency range mentioned in the class licence","content":"#### Schedule 1 Owners, controllers or operators of foreign space objects operating in a frequency range mentioned in the class licence\n\n(paragraph 6 (a))\n\n| Item | Corporation owning, controlling or operating foreign space object              |\n| ---- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |\n| 1    | APT Satellite Company Limited (incorporated in Hong Kong)                      |\n| 2    | Asia Satellite Telecommunications Holdings Limited (incorporated in Hong Kong) |\n| 3    | Astrocast SA (incorporated in Switzerland)                                     |\n| 4    | Eutelsat Asia Pte Ltd (incorporated in Singapore)                              |\n| 5    | Fleet Space Technologies Pty Ltd (ACN 607 948 729) (incorporated in Australia) |\n| 6    | Globalstar L.P. (incorporated in the United States of America)                 |\n| 7    | Hiber B.V. (incorporated in The Netherlands)                                   |\n| 8    | Inmarsat Global Limited (incorporated in the United Kingdom)                   |\n| 9    | Intelsat US LLC (incorporated in the United States of America)                 |\n| 10   | Iridium LLC (incorporated in the United States of America)                     |\n| 11   | Kepler Communications Inc. (incorporated in Canada)                            |\n| 12   | Kinéis SAS (incorporated in France)                                            |\n| 13   | Kuiper Systems LLC (incorporated in the United States of America)              |\n| 14   | Network Access Associates Ltd (incorporated in the United Kingdom)             |\n| 15   | New Skies Satellites B.V. (incorporated in The Netherlands)                    |\n| 16   | NSL Comm Ltd (incorporated in Israel)                                          |\n| 17   | O3b Limited (incorporated in Jersey)                                           |\n| 18   | Omnispace LLC (incorporated in the United States of America)                   |\n| 19   | OQ Technology S.à r.l. (incorporated in Luxembourg)                            |\n| 20   | ORBCOMM Global L.P. (incorporated in the United States of America)             |\n| 21   | Ovzon Sweden AB (incorporated in Sweden)                                       |\n| 22   | Plan-S Satellite and Space Technologies Inc. (incorporated in Türkiye)         |\n| 23   | Rivada Space Networks GmbH (incorporated in Germany)                           |\n| 24   | Satelio IoT Services, S.L. (incorporated in Spain)                             |\n| 25   | SES Americom, Inc (incorporated in the United States of America)               |\n| 26   | SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation (incorporated in Japan)                           |\n| 27   | SpaceQuest, Ltd. (incorporated in the United States of America)                |\n| 28   | SpaceX Services, Inc. (incorporated in the United States of America)           |\n| 29   | Swarm Technologies, Inc. (incorporated in the United States of America)        |\n| 30   | Telesat Canada (incorporated in Canada)                                        |\n| 31   | Thaicom Public Company Limited (incorporated in Thailand)                      |\n| 32   | Thuraya Telecommunications Company (incorporated in the United Arab Emirates)  |\n| 33   | Viasat, Inc. (incorporated in the United States of America)                    |","sortOrder":6}],"analysis":{"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"Unauthenticated. Configure AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY or use a provider module. Learn more: https://ai-sdk.dev/unauthenticated-ai-gateway","source":"analysis-cron"},"summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":1,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"Replaces the Radiocommunications (Foreign Space Objects) Determination 2014 with an updated list of corporations and aligns with the 2025 class licence."},"complexity_factors":["Refers to frequency ranges and conditions in a separate class licence instrument","Deals with extraterritorial application of the Radiocommunications Act","Contains a straightforward list of affected corporations"],"plain_english_summary":"This determination extends the Radiocommunications Act to certain foreign space objects (listed corporations) when they communicate with radio stations in Australia, tying those satellites to the Radiocommunications (Communication with Space Object) Class Licence 2025. Replacing the 2014 list, it makes specified foreign satellite operators subject to Australian radiocomms law for relevant cross‑border links, giving ACMA oversight to manage interference and lawful spectrum use."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"This instrument expressly repeals the 2014 Determination (section 4) and replaces it by tying extraterritorial application to the 2025 class licence frequency paragraphs and the updated Schedule 1 list of corporations (sections 5–6; Schedule 1). That alters which foreign space objects are captured by referencing a new class licence and by updating the named corporate list."},"complexity_factors":["Extraterritorial trigger depends on two linked conditions: corporate ownership/control/operation and operation in frequency ranges specified in the separate class licence (section 6).","Key operational detail (which frequencies are covered) is contained in a separate instrument (the class licence) referenced by paragraph 8(a) and (b) of that licence (section 5 definition of class licence; section 6(b)).","Schedule 1 lists 33 named corporations (domestic and foreign) whose status determines coverage; maintaining and interpreting that list adds administrative and legal detail (Schedule 1).","Ambiguous phrasing 'owned, controlled or operated by or for a corporation' creates interpretive questions about when a space object is treated as associated with a listed corporation (section 6(a)).","Several definitions and applicability questions are resolved by cross‑reference to other legislative instruments and Acts (the Act, the Australian Space Objects Determination 2025, and potential ACMA determinations under the ACMA Act), increasing reliance on external texts (section 5 notes).","The instrument repeals the prior 2014 Determination, so historical expectations and compliance positions must be re-assessed (section 4).","Commencement is immediate (start of the day after registration), which can shorten lead time for affected entities to adapt (section 2).","Authority is delegated under paragraph 16(1)(ca) of the Act, so enforcement and application rest on the Act’s regulatory framework rather than detailed operational rules in this instrument (section 3)."],"plain_english_summary":"This Determination makes the Radiocommunications Act apply outside Australia to particular foreign space objects owned, controlled or operated by the corporations named in Schedule 1 when their space stations transmit to or receive from stations inside Australia in frequency ranges set out in the Radiocommunications (Communication with Space Object) Class Licence 2025. It replaces the 2014 Determination. The listed corporations and any Australian stations communicating with those space objects are brought within Australian radiocommunications regulation for those transmissions."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This Determination appears to maintain the same scope as its predecessor (the 2014 version). It performs the same function: extending the Radiocommunications Act to foreign space objects owned by listed corporations when communicating with Australia. The update primarily refreshes the list of corporations (adding new operators like Kuiper Systems, Rivada Space Networks, and others while removing outdated ones) and references the 2025 Class Licence instead of previous versions. The core mechanism and jurisdictional reach remain unchanged."},"complexity_factors":["Very short instrument (only 6 substantive sections plus Schedule)","Only 1 defined term in the interpretation section ('class licence')","Simple conditional structure: two cumulative requirements in section 6 (paragraphs (a) and (b))","No nested exceptions or complex cross-referencing beyond basic references to the Act and class licence","Schedule 1 is a straightforward table listing 33 corporations without additional conditions or sub-categories","Operates as a simple 'sunset and replace' of the 2014 Determination"],"plain_english_summary":"This law extends Australia's radio communication rules to cover foreign satellites and space objects when they communicate with stations inside Australia.\n\n**What it does:**\nNormally, Australian laws only apply within Australia's borders. This Determination makes an exception for the *Radiocommunications Act 1992* — it says the Act applies **outside Australia** when specific foreign-owned satellites transmit radio signals to or receive them from Australia.\n\n**Who it affects:**\nThe law applies to 33 specific companies that own, control, or operate foreign satellites (called \"foreign space objects\"). These include major satellite operators like SpaceX, Starlink (via SpaceX Services), Inmarsat, Intelsat, Iridium, and Amazon's Kuiper Systems, as well as smaller operators like Fleet Space Technologies and Swarm Technologies.\n\n**How it works:**\nFor the law to apply outside Australia, two conditions must be met:\n1. The satellite must be owned, controlled, or operated by one of the 33 listed corporations (Schedule 1); AND\n2. The satellite must be operating in specific frequency ranges allowed under the *Radiocommunications (Communication with Space Object) Class Licence 2025* to communicate with stations inside Australia.\n\n**Why it matters:**\nThis ensures Australia can regulate radio spectrum use even when the satellite is in space and owned by a foreign company. Without this law, foreign satellites communicating with Australia might operate in a legal grey area. It helps prevent radio interference and ensures foreign operators follow Australian rules when connecting to Australian ground stations.\n\n**Key terms explained:**\n- **Foreign space object**: A satellite or spacecraft that is *not* classified as Australian (basically, anything not on Australia's own satellite register).\n- **Class licence**: A type of general permission that lets multiple operators use certain radio frequencies without individual applications, as long as they follow standard rules.\n- **Space station**: In this context, the radio equipment on the satellite itself, not a ground station."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/radiocommunications-foreign-space-objects-determination-2025","history":"/api/acts/radiocommunications-foreign-space-objects-determination-2025/history","analysis":"/api/acts/radiocommunications-foreign-space-objects-determination-2025/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/radiocommunications-foreign-space-objects-determination-2025/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/radiocommunications-foreign-space-objects-determination-2025/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/radiocommunications-foreign-space-objects-determination-2025/documents"}}