Eutelsat OK with FCC’s C-band auction plan provided satellite operator costs are covered 

In a Nov. 21 letter to the FCC,  Eutelsat told the commission that some proceeds from the spectrum sale should go toward covering costs satellite operators will incur moving out of the band, and to provide “incentive” payments to expedite the spectrum transition to new 5G users.

Satellite operators lose battle for private C-band auction worth billions

BREMEN, Germany — FCC Chairman Ajit Pai informed Congress Nov. 18 that the agency will run a public auction of C-band spectrum instead of allowing a consortium of satellite operators to sell it directly to 5G wire…

C-Band Alliance says it would send billions to U.S. treasury under private spectrum auction

Satellite operators Intelsat, SES and Telesat on Nov. 15 detailed how they would calculate the proceeds they have pledged to contribute to the U.S. treasury if the Federal Communications Commission accepts their proposal to privately auction C-band spectrum sought by 5G network operators. 

4.1 billion people online • Iridium completes $1.45 billion refinancing • SES exec to chair Space Data Association

An estimated 53.6% of the world’s population now has access to the internet, according to a new report from the International Telecommunication Union.

21st Annual Global MilSatCom

SMi Group are proud to announce the 21st annual Global MilSatCom conference and exhibition will return to London on the 5th, 6th and 7th November alongside a Small Satellites and Disruptive Space Technology focus day on the 4th November.

As…

House lawmakers, with legislation in tow, push for public C-band auction

More than half a dozen House lawmakers said Oct. 29 the FCC, not the satellite industry, should conduct an upcoming auction to transfer C-band spectrum to the 5G wireless industry.

SES video revenue continues to slide, cloud services now company-wide strategy

Fleet operator SES is adding cloud services to its data and broadcast businesses while acknowledging that broadcast revenue has been shrinking faster than data is growing.

SES, Viasat say FCC’s rural broadband latency requirements unfair to satellites

Satellite operators want to participate in a newly proposed $20.4 billion rural broadband program, but say the U.S. Federal Communications Commission’s scoring criteria for signal lag puts them at a disadvantage. 

SpaceX to launch SES’s O3b mPower constellation on two Falcon 9 rockets

SpaceX received a contract to launch the first seven O3b mPower satellites using Falcon 9 rockets, the companies announced Sept. 9. 

Eutelsat: We quit the C-Band Alliance because our voice wasn’t heard

Eutelsat Chief Executive Rodolphe Belmer said his company decided last week to leave the C-Band Alliance because the group didn’t pay sufficient attention to the company’s concerns. 

Facebook, Hughes start Colombian Wi-Fi service • Ariane 6 supplier GKN Aerospace cutting 1,000 jobs 

Facebook has partnered with Hughes Network Systems to launch a satellite-enabled Wi-Fi hotspot service in Colombia.

Eutelsat leaves C-Band Alliance as spectrum decision looms

Eutelsat Communications has quit the C-Band Alliance, fracturing the group of global satellite operators as a regulatory decision on their spectrum plan nears. 

Rival plan to C-Band Alliance calls for spectrum auction, fiber switchover for satellite broadcasters

Charter, ACA Connects and the Competitive Carriers Association (CCA) on July 1 filed a counterplan with the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, urging the commission to open 370 megahertz of satellite C-band spectrum through an auction.

Soyuz launch completes first-generation O3b constellation

European launch provider Arianespace completed SES’s first-generation O3b constellation April 4 with the Soyuz launch of four satellites.

FCC: we won’t rush C-band decision

Federal Communications Commission officials urged patience with the repurposing process for satellite C-band spectrum, saying regulators are more concerned about getting it right than rushing the process.

FIRST UP Satcom | SmartSky raises $104M • SES picks Halliwell successor • Netflix tops satellite, cable in US

SmartSky has raised close to $350 million. Its network of towers across the United States is scheduled to begin commercial service later this year.