Airbus, Eutelsat win ESA study contracts • Leonardo CEO to lead industry group

The European Space Agency has awarded study contracts to Airbus and Eutelsat consortia to identify what solutions and “disruptive technologies” the agency should focus on.

Exotrail wins ESA contracts • SmartSky suing ATG equipment contractor • Eutelsat executive steps down

French propulsion startup Exotrail has signed two contracts with the European Space Agency for its smallsat electric propulsion technology.

Eutelsat scraps plan for replacement C-band satellite

Eutelsat Communications says it no longer intends to buy a reimbursable C-band replacement satellite for the U.S. market, having concluded it can make do with less spectrum by rationalizing capacity on its current geostationary fleet. 

Intelsat to market half of capacity on Eutelsat’s Quantum satellite

Intelsat has agreed to help market half the capacity on an upcoming Eutelsat satellite designed mainly for government customers, the companies announced July 30. 

Hughes, Inmarsat urge FCC restrictions on subsidized C-band satellites

Hughes Network Systems and Inmarsat are asking the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to amend its C-band auction plans to avoid giving Intelsat and SES an unfair competitive advantage in other spectrum bands and neighboring markets. 

Eutelsat to order single replacement C-band satellite for FCC spectrum clearing

Paris-based Eutelsat told the FCC that it will have to replace one geostationary satellite it previously did not plan to replace as a result of the FCC decision to clear spectrum for U.S. 5G networks.

Gogo pursuing satellite contract changes as coronavirus dampens demand

Gogo CEO Oakleigh Thorne said the coronavirus pandemic is partly behind the company’s cost-saving efforts, since decreased airline traffic has had a knock-on effect on demand for passenger Wi-Fi. 

Satellite operators hint at fear of SpaceX, Blue Origin becoming competitors

Executives from SES and Eutelsat said they are watching as SpaceX deploys its own Starlink constellation of broadband satellites, which could make SpaceX one of their competitors. 

FCC’s $9.7 billion C-band incentive hinging on Intelsat and SES participation 

WASHINGTON — The FCC says it will scrap a $9.7 billion spectrum clearing incentive package approved last week if Intelsat and SES don’t both agree to the terms. 

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Telesat sides with SES against Intelsat’s request for more C-band money

Telesat and SES are urging the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to reject Intelsat’s request for a larger share of the $9.7 billion in incentive payments the FCC plans to offer satellite operators to hasten the clearing of C-band spectrum the United States wants to repurpose for 5G cellular networks.

SES and Eutelsat make their own cases for more C-band money

SES has started its own campaign for more money, arguing that “undisputed facts conclusively show that Intelsat and SES deserve equal shares of any accelerated relocation payments.”

Intelsat to FCC: C-Band Alliance is dead, we deserve more money

Intelsat on Feb. 19 urged the FCC to give the company at least $1 billion more of $9.7 billion in proposed compensation for clearing C-band spectrum for 5G networks and to treat the C-Band Alliance Intelsat formed with rivals SES and Telesat as essentially dead. 

FCC sets December C-band auction, offers up to $14.7 billion for satellite operators

Intelsat, SES and other satellite operators could receive up to $14.7 billion to cover the cost of losing C-band spectrum and to expedite transitioning those airwaves to 5G cellular networks. 

C-Band Alliance pegs satellite spectrum clearing costs at $3.3 billion

The C-Band Alliance said it will cost Intelsat, SES and Telesat $3.3 billion to clear 300 megahertz of C-band spectrum for U.S. 5G wireless networks without leaving satellite-dependent television broadcasters in a lurch. 

GMV providing ground infrastructure for Space Norway satellites • AAC Clyde wins cubesat order

Spanish supplier GMV received a contract from Northrop Grumman to provide the flight control system for Space Norway’s two highly elliptical orbit satellites.

Power loss halves Eutelsat 5 West B capacity, hosted payload spared

Eutelsat said an investigation into the Eutelsat 5 West B satellite, launched in October, concluded that one of its two solar arrays was unusable, reducing power to support communications services.