Intelsat, operator of the world’s largest integrated satellite and terrestrial network, announced that it has contracted for new satellites with U.S. manufacturers, a necessary step to meet the accelerated C-band spectrum clearing timelines established by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) earlier this year.
Intelsat has entered into two new agreements; one with Maxar Technologies to build and deliver four satellites, and another with Northrop Grumman to build and deliver two satellites. Intelsat is currently in negotiations with manufacturers for a seventh satellite required to support its C-band transition.
For its part, Maxar announced it will build four geostationary communications satellites for Intelsat. The contract was previously disclosed with Maxar’s 2020 first quarter results. Intelsat ordered the satellites to transition its existing media distribution and contribution services, uninterrupted, from the 3.7 to 4.0 gigahertz portion of the C-band, to the 4.0 to 4.2 gigahertz portion of the band as part of the FCC plan to reallocate 300 megahertz of C-band spectrum for 5G terrestrial wireless services. Under an agreement, Maxar will deliver the Galaxy 31, Galaxy 32, Galaxy 35 and Galaxy 36 satellites in 2022. The satellites will provide primarily video distribution services to customers in the continental United States.
“Maxar is proud to continue its partnership with Intelsat that goes back more than 40 years,” said Megan Fitzgerald, Maxar’s Senior Vice President and General Manager of Space Infrastructure. “Maxar’s 1300-class spacecraft remains the industry gold standard for value, reliability and flexibility, and we look forward to exceeding our customers’ expectations in these regards.”
“Intelsat looks forward to supporting the FCC in successfully transitioning the C-band spectrum and accelerating America’s path to 5G – all while safeguarding the high-quality media broadcast services in the band that more than 100 million American households currently rely on,” added Mike DeMarco, Intelsat’s Chief Services Officer. “Partnering with Maxar ensures that we will have the highest quality satellites in service on time to meet the FCC’s aggressive transition schedule and execute a seamless transition for our customers.”
Later this week, Intelsat plans to file its full C-band spectrum transition plan with the FCC in accordance with the FCC’s revised timeline. The plan will provide additional manufacturing and launch details for new satellites and outline the steps that Intelsat will take to reconfigure its terrestrial-based infrastructure and to ensure a successful transition.
“Quickly clearing 300 megahertz of the U.S. C-band spectrum to make way for 5G wireless applications is a complex task, layered with a significant number of highly interdependent technical activities, including building and launching multiple new satellites designed to operate at the higher portion of the band,” concluded Intelsat's DeMarco. “Intelsat looks forward to collaborating with our longstanding partners Maxar Technologies and Northrop Grumman on these critical builds, essential to clearing portions of the C-band spectrum and cementing America’s leadership in 5G.”
Intelsat notes the company was launched with President John F. Kennedy’s signing of the U.S. Satellite Communications Act into law in 1962. With administrative headquarters in McLean, Virginia, 24/7 satellite operations centers in California and Virginia, a 24/7 network operations center in Georgia, and staffed teleport locations in California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii and Maryland, Intelsat employs over 1,000 Americans across 11 states. Over 100 million U.S. households rely on Intelsat for their TV service, and Intelsat is the largest provider of satellite communications services to the U.S. military. Last month, Intelsat launched a new managed service for U.S. mobile operators that will help expand 4G and 5G broadband coverage to rural America.
Learn more at www.intelsat.com.