Telesat
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.
Telesat LEO manufacturing decision bumped to 2020
Telesat Canada will likely choose the winner of a now three-way race to build its low Earth orbit broadband constellation in the first few months of 2020 instead of this year, CEO Dan Goldberg said Nov. 5.
Maxar announces GEO order, property sale and debt refinancing, sizes WorldView Legion at six satellites
Maxar Technologies on Nov. 4 said an undisclosed customer has agreed to buy a geostationary communications satellite, providing what Maxar offered as proof that retaining and resizing Space Systems Loral was a worthwhile decision.
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.
Thales Alenia Space expanding Spanish factory • Telesat completes $500 million debt refinancing
Thales Alenia Space said Oct. 16 it will add 600 square meters of clean room space at its Tres Cantos, Madrid, facility to support the integration of telecom, navigation, Earth observation and science spacecraft.
Inflection point within the year for megaconstellations?
An inflection point is coming in the next six to twelve months for the multibillion dollar satellite megaconstellations, when it will become apparent which ones are likely to succeed and which ones “will take a pause or exit,” Chris Baugh, Northern Sky Research president, said Oct. 9 at the Satellite Innovation 2019 conference.
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.
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.
Telesat outlines spending plan for Canadian government’s LEO constellation investment
Telesat plans to use an 85 million Canadian dollar ($64.7 million) investment by the government of Canada on the first dozen satellites of its low Earth orbit broadband constellation.
Canadian government pledges $521 million for Telesat LEO constellation
The Canadian government is investing 85 million Canadian dollars ($64.7 million) into research and development for Telesat’s broadband satellite constellation, and has agreed to spend up to 600 million Canadian dollars ($456.6 million) more on capacity.
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.
Megaconstellation ventures cautious about deployment milestones
Companies planning large constellations of broadband satellites want regulators to be careful not to undercut their business plans by introducing strict deployment milestones for keeping their full spectrum rights.
Telesat’s LEO plan: dedicated satellite factory, bulk launch contracts and a variety of antennas
Telesat wants a factory capable of building 20 to 25 large LEO satellites a month so that it can have monthly launches. The company is also working with several antenna builders to have user terminals ready for broadband services.
OneWeb, Intellian partner on terminals • Telesat demos LEO backhaul • Atlas to provide grounds comms for PlanetiQ constellation
OneWeb has partnered with antenna maker Intellian to provide communications terminals for its low Earth orbit broadband constellation.
