Advanced Television

cband

Intelsat qualifies for $3.7bn for C-band clearing

Intelsat is due to receive a windfall of $3.7 billion (€3.38bn) later this year after successfully clearing the C-band spectrum ahead of schedule for terrestrial 5G telecommunications companies in the US. The company launched its seventh and final C-band replacement satellite (Galaxy 37/Horizons-4) on August 3rd and obtained FCC certification for moving its broadcast customers […]

August 15, 2023By Chris Forrester

SES: More cash to come from C-band

SES told analysts that while it was looking forward to banking some $3 billion in cash from the FCC’s C-band compensation scheme (and likely to be banked early to mid-Q4/2023) there was more cash likely to be forthcoming. CFO Sandeep Jalan’s advice was to “stay tuned”. Acting CEO Ruy Pinto and Jalan were briefing analysts […]

August 4, 2023

Intelsat left SES “on the hook” for C-band costs

SES has filed its response to Intelsat’s bankruptcy court, arguing that when the two parties signed the 2018 [C-band] Consortium Agreement SES and Intelsat not only agreed to share equally in any proceeds resulting from clearing the C-Band, but they also agreed to share equally in expenses incurred in connection with their efforts – whether […]

January 20, 2023

Intelsat, SES successes earn $14bn for industry

On October 4th, a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas-5 Centaur rocket placed two SES C-band satellites (SES-20 and SES-21) into orbit. On October 5th, SpaceX performed a similar task for two Intelsat satellites. The moves are part of an essential replacement of C-band frequencies over the US for the FCC to use by cellular operators […]

October 7, 2022

SES-20, SES-21 prepare for launch

Hurricane Ian has moved away from the Cape Canaveral launch facilities, and if no other weather events happen then the United Launch Alliance (ULA) should be able to launch SES-20 and SES-21 into orbit later today [October 4th]. ULA plans to use one of its Atlas rockets at 5.36 pm EDT to loft the two […]

October 4, 2022By Chris Forrester

SES launches 1st of new C-band fleet

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully placed SES-22 into orbit on June 29th. The launch means that SES has made its first key step on re-equipping its C-band fleet over North America. SES has a further five C-band satellites to place into orbit. Built by Thales Alenia Space, the first of SES’s C-band satellites dedicated […]

June 30, 2022By Chris Forrester

SES bosses do well out of C-band deal

CEO Steve Collar and seven other senior executives at SES have been awarded attractive bonuses as a result of securing the first $1 billion in FCC incentive payments for clearing C-band frequencies over the US. The news emerged in the SES Annual Report which was adopted and approved by the SES Annual general Meeting on […]

April 11, 2022By Chris Forrester

Intelsat: C-band transition update

Intelsat has updated the FCC with its final report on its C-band transition. One of the 601-page document’s major elements its listing each of its clients and their Earth stations and which of them elected to take cash from Intelsat for their local filter work instead of allowing Intelsat to undertake the tasks. “Undertaking the […]

April 1, 2022

ITU toughens up on late satellites

It might be logical to think that coming out of a two year pandemic – which saw staff and logistical problems for satellite operators and the companies building their new satellites – might offer a reasonable excuse for missing launch deadlines. ‘Not so’, implies the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). The ITU has firmly rejected applications […]

March 28, 2022

Fitch: GES acquisition Neutral for SES rating

SES’s (BBB/Stable) planned acquisition of DRS Global Enterprise Solutions (GES), provider of commercial satellite communications to the US government, will have no impact on SES’s ratings, Fitch Ratings says. SES announced March 21st that it had entered into an agreement with Leonardo DRS, a US subsidiary of Leonardo S.p.A. (BBB-/Stable), to acquire GES for $450 […]

March 24, 2022