TNAG-2857-FCO40-4110-Satellite-Licensing-and-Asia-Satellite-Telecommunications-Co-1993 — Page 54

ORION

5. This would apparently be the first time that a group of countries had jointly notified in this way on behalf of a commercial operation and Orion has provided a memorandum on the legal aspects. Group notifications are of course common in Intelsat and it would accord with our views on competition to extend this sort of process to the private consortia. Aside from Intelsat, the only significant competitor system with which the UK is associated is Asia-Sat, which is largely concerned with television distribution and is based in Hong Kong. There will clearly be some competition between the two.

I would appreciate comments from BNSC on the British Aerospace angle - does Mr Payne have a feel for how realistic their hopes are for future Orion contracts? Please would Mr Bailey respond if he sees any difficulty over the proposed group notification to the

6.

ITU.

I attach an interim response to Orion for your signature. Please would copy recipients comment on the proposed line in this letter by 14 May.

7.

A J DAVIES