Telesat and Loral to form Canadian public company

Canadian satellite fleet operator Telesat and Loral Space & Communications announced plans Nov. 24 to combine to form Telesat Corp., a Canadian public company, in a deal expected to close next year.

Telesat to announce satellite, launch contracts by year’s end

Canadian satellite fleet operator Telesat is in advanced discussions with vendors seeking to build and launch satellites for its multibillion dollar Telesat LEO constellation.

Telesat wins DARPA contract to manufacture satellite buses for Blackjack program

Telesat won a $18.3 million DARPA contract to produce two satellite buses for the Blackjack low-Earth orbit constellation.

Space Development Agency praised as change agent in Pentagon procurement

SDA's contracting process has impressed industry executives.

Hughes views OneWeb stake as key to FCC broadband subsidies

Hughes Network Systems believes it has a chance at winning some of the $20.4 billion in rural broadband subsidies the U.S. Federal Communications Commission is preparing to spend, thanks to the company’s recent investment in megaconstellation startup OneWeb. 

Maxar backs away from Telesat LEO competition

Maxar Technologies no longer expects, at least initially, to win any manufacturing contracts for Telesat’s future broadband megaconstellation of 300 satellites. 

LEO constellations still held to high bar in FCC rural broadband subsidy program

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission remains unconvinced that low Earth orbit satellite internet constellations are worth subsidizing through its $16 billion rural broadband program despite tweaking the rules for that program to give LEO constellations a better chance to qualify for funding. 

Telesat preparing for mid-2020 constellation manufacturer selection 

Telesat says enabling technologies for its low-Earth-orbit constellation of 298 internet satellites are now mature enough for the operator to select a prime contractor in the next few months. 

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. 

Sa…

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. 

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.