Advanced Television

cband

Eutelsat lays out C-band strategy

Eutelsat, which is also involved in the restructuring of C-band frequencies over the US, has confirmed to the FCC that it will not be buying a dedicated C-band satellite to serve its North American clients. Eutelsat back in June had cautioned the FCC that an additional satellite might be needed – at a cost of […]

August 19, 2020By Chris Forrester

C-band: Intelsat to protect 20 transponders for OU

Intelsat’s submission to the FCC for its transition plan explains that its client list – in normal non-Covid times – requires a large slice of capacity to support Occasional Use (OU) and Contribution services. In 2019, without the problems of Covid-19, amounted to some 20 transponders-worth of bandwidth at maximum demand and supporting 16,000 C-band […]

August 19, 2020By Chris Forrester

SES chooses ULA & SpaceX for C-band launches

SES has made its decision for the upcoming launches for five of its planned C-band satellites. It has chosen the United Launch Alliance (ULA) to place two of its C-band satellites into orbit in 2022, whilst SpaceX gets an order for the launch of three C-band satellites. The ULA will use one of its giant […]

August 5, 2020By Chris Forrester

Harmonic sees significant C-band opportunity

Video delivery specialist Harmonic has identified what it describes as a “several hundred million dollar opportunity” to re-engineer the video delivery systems relating to the FCC-mandated reclamation of C-band satellite spectrum for 5G, suggesting it fits squarely into the “sweet spot” of Harmonic’s expertise and market relationships. Speaking on the company’s Q2 2020 Results Earnings […]

August 4, 2020By Colin Mann

Intelsat shareholders investigation over C-band

Dissatisfied Intelsat shareholders who allege that there were breaches of fiduciary duties by certain directors at Intelsat have won their day in court. The Shareholders Foundation, in a statement, say: “According to that complaint filed in the US District Court for the Northern District of California the plaintiff alleges that the Defendants violated provisions of […]

July 29, 2020By Chris Forrester

SES, Harmonic partner for C-band transition

Video delivery specialist Harmonic is to partner with satellite operator SES for technology upgrades associated with the SES transition plan filed with the Federal Communications Commission on June 19th, 2020. The pair will work together to fast-track this deployment, freeing up spectrum for 5G while simultaneously enabling SES’s C-band customers to maintain the quality and […]

July 28, 2020

Estimate: C-band auction to raise $40bn

Mobile data industry management consulting practice The Besen Group has launched a C-Band Spectrum Evaluation Tool for enterprises who are planning to bid at the upcoming FCC C-band auction in December 2020. The Besen Group estimates that the spectrum auction will raise over $40 billion (€34.1bn) with the average cost of $0.46 per MHz-POP for […]

July 27, 2020

Analyst: SES/Intelsat claim update

On July 15th it was reported that SES Americom was arguing with Intelsat’s bankruptcy court that Intelsat should pay $1.8 billion to SES because of a “contract violation” over the pair’s C-band Alliance (CBA) agreement and the clearance of spectrum for 5G. Following the news, satellite analyst Sami Kassab from investment bank Exane/BNPP issued a […]

July 16, 2020By Chris Forrester

FCC reveals 5G plan progress

In a blog leaning heavily on analogies with blockbuster movie Top Gun and its ‘Need for Speed’ tagline, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has set out the Commission’s activities in executing the 5G FAST Plan — a comprehensive strategy for advancing American leadership in 5G, as well as updating progress on its forthcoming C-band auction. “We […]

July 16, 2020By Colin Mann

Inmarsat/Hughes object to SES/Intelsat C-band plan

Inmarsat and Hughes Network Systems have joined Eutelsat in objecting to the FCC’s current C-band auction rules. The pair say that the FCC’s incentive scheme favours Intelsat and SES and will give the two satellite giants an unfair competitive advantage. Inmarsat and Hughes (and EchoStar Satellite Services) have written to the FCC saying they agree […]

July 2, 2020By Chris Forrester