Intelsat starts clearing C-band, making way for 5G

Nieuws Video Verenigde Staten 27 MAY 2020
Intelsat starts clearing C-band, making way for 5G
Intelsat said it has filed a written commitment with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that it will participate in the accelerated clearing of the C-band, needed for 5G. The FCC hopes to hold an auction for the spectrum later this year. The commission wants to clear the lower 280 MHz of the 3.7-4.2 GHz C-band spectrum, plus a 20 MHz guard band, by relocating existing satellite services to the upper part of the band. SES has also committed to clearing the band.

Intelsat said it will work with customers over the coming months to ensure a smooth transition as it retunes and repoints antennas and installs 5G signal-locking filters. The company noted that it has filed a Petition for Reconsideration, asking the FCC to make some “very limited” technical changes to the C-band order in order to mitigate post-transition interference and protect certain satellite control transmissions. 

Intelsat was launched when President John F Kennedy signed the US Satellite Communications Act into law in 1962. Over 100 million US households use TV services thanks to the company, which has administrative headquarters in McLean, Virginia, 24/7 satellite operations centres in California and Virginia, a 24/7 network operations centre in Georgia, and staffed teleport locations in California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii and Maryland, Intelsat employs over 1,000 Americans across 11 states. The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection earlier this month, in order to restructure its debt. It said it needed to free up cash for the C-band clearance and to qualify for associated transition payments.

Categories:

Satelliet,  Mobiel

Companies:

FCC,  Intelsat

Countries:

Verenigde Staten

Tags:

Production planning & operations, 5G, Corporate strategy

Related Articles

VERENIGDE STATEN 15 AUG 2023

Intelsat to collect USD 3.7 billion in Q4 after completing C-band clearance in US

Intelsat said it will receive nearly USD 3.7 billion in the fourth quarter after completing C-band spectrum clearing in the US. The FCC's C-Band Transition Order set a deadline of December 2025 for clearing the spectrum, but offered incentive payments to satellite operators for clearing before December 2023 in order to speed up access for 5G services.

VERENIGDE STATEN 21 MAR 2022

Verizon gets quicker access to C-Band spectrum for 5G expansion

Verizon has signed agreements with satellite operators to expand the US-based mobile carrier's access to part of the C-band (3700-3800 MHz) in important regions across the US, before the relocation deadlines set out in the US Federal Communication Commission's order. Verizon said it will now be able to bring its 5G Ultra Wideband service to more cities this year.

WERELD 25 AUG 2021

Intelsat reaches debt restructuring deal, sees Chapter 11 exit by year-end

Intelsat announced a deal with its main creditors to restructure its debt, putting the satellite company on a path to exiting Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection by year-end. It's filed the proposed restructuring plan with the court in Virginia managing its bankruptcy proceedings for approval.

WERELD 12 FEB 2021

Intelsat proposes fresh restructuring plan to bankruptcy court, with goal to halve debt

Intelsat is filing a proposed restructuring plan, as part of its Chapter 11 proceedings pending before the US bankruptcy court for the Eastern District of Virginia. The plan, which the company said has the support of key creditors, would reduce debt by more than half, to USD 7 billion from nearly 15 billion, and "position the company for long-term success." Specifically, the plan has the support of holders of USD 3.8 billion worth of the Intelsat's funded debt. The company hopes to bring more creditors on b

VERENIGDE STATEN 8 DEC 2020

FCC opens bidding for C-band spectrum

The US Federal Communications Commission has confirmed the start of bidding in the auction of the 3.7-3.98 GHz band. The C-band frequencies are being freed up by satellite operators to provide key mid-band spectrum for expanding 5G  networks in the US.

WERELD 1 SEP 2020

Intelsat buys Gogo commercial aviation ops for USD 400 mln in cash

Satellite operator Intelsat has signed a definitive agreement to buy the commercial aviation business of Gogo for USD 400 million in cash, subject to the usual adjustments. Gogo said it started looking for buyers earlier this month, after reporting a 55 percent drop in revenues for the second quarter. Intelsat will operate the acquired business  as an independent unit based in Chicago and led by current CA president John Wade.

VERENIGDE STATEN 7 AUG 2020

FCC approves terms for C-Band auction in December

The Federal Communications Commission has established the final application and bidding procedures for the auction of the 3.7-3.98 GHz band. A total of 280 MHz of spectrum will be offered for 5G and other wireless services, in the form of 5,684 licences based on Partial Economic Areas (PEAs). The auction is planned to start on 08 December.

VERENIGDE STATEN 22 JUN 2020

Nokia first to demonstrate live C-Band network in US

Nokia successfully completed a series of Over-the-Air (OTA) 5G NR (new radio) trials in C-band spectrum, in Dallas, Texas. The drive tests, which achieved stable peak throughput speeds of over 1 Gbps, confirmed that Nokia's platform is ready for commercial deployment ahead of the US C-band spectrum auction in December. The C-band, between 3.4 GHz and 4.2 GHz, is a crucial resource for operators to offer the best mix of 5G network capacity and coverage to subscribers across the US.

VERENIGDE STATEN 22 JUN 2020

Intelsat files C-band transition plan with FCC

Intelsat said it has filed its C-band spectrum transition plan with the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC). As one part of the plan, the company announced earlier that it would work with Maxar Technologies and Northrop Grumman to design and manufacture satellites for the transition to the 4.0-4.2 GHz portion of the C-band, from the 3.7-4.0 GHz portion.

VERENIGDE STATEN 16 JUN 2020

Intelsat procures new satellites for C-band spectrum transition

Intelsat has entered into two new agreements, one with Maxar Technologies whereby Maxar will build and deliver four satellites, and another with Northrop Grumman under which Northrop will build and deliver two satellites. Intelsat also is in negotiations with manufacturers for a seventh satellite required to support its C-band transition. 

WERELD 4 JUN 2020

Intelsat reports wider loss in Q1 affected by pandemic

Intelsat said revenues for the first quarter fell 13 percent from the year before to USD 458.8 million, with declines across the board. The net loss meanwhile widened to USD 218.8 million from a loss of 120.6 million while the adjusted EBITDA slid to USD 294 million from 380.3 million. The operating cash flow amounted to USD 14.3 million, with the free cash flow at USD 18.1 million.

VERENIGDE STATEN 2 JUN 2020

Satellite operators accept FCC offer for accelerated clearance of C-band spectrum

Satellite operators in the US have agreed to the FCC's accelerated timetable for clearing C-band spectrum. This means the frequencies in the 3.7 GHz band will go up for auction by year-end and part of the band will be available already in late 2021 for 5G mobile networks. 

AFRIKA 1 JUN 2020

MultiChoice says satellite operations will not be affected by Intelsat financial restructuring

MultiChoice's satellite TV operations will not be affected by Intelsat's voluntary filing of Chapter 11 petitions to the US Bankruptcy Court, the companies told MyBroadband. MultiChoice uses the Intelsat-20 and Intelsat-36 satellites to beam its signal for DStv across Africa. Intelsat announced this month that it and certain subsidiaries have filed for Chapter 11 proceedings but it told MyBroadband that it is not filing for bankruptcy.

VERENIGDE STATEN 26 MAY 2020

SES starts clearing C-band spectrum ahead of US auction

Satellite operator SES said it plans to meet the FCC's accelerated timeline of 23 April to clear part of the C-band spectrum in the US. The FCC wants to clear the band so that it can hold an auction for the spectrum, which will then be used for 5G. The move means SES will be entitled to receive up to USD 3.97 billion in accelerated relocation payments.

WERELD 15 MAY 2020

Eutelsat underlying revenues down 1.6% in March quarter

Satellite operator Eutelsat posted revenues of EUR 323.1 million across its operating verticals for the March quarter (fiscal Q3 2019-2020), down 1.6 percent year-on-year at constant currency and perimeter (-3.7% in fiscal Q2). The revenue drop was 4.4 percent on a reported basis when including the 'Other revenue' line. The company said that the quarter was in line in expectations, and highlighted the resilient revenue performance of its core Broadcast business (-0.2% like-for-like). The revised full-year g

Just In

19 DEC 16:42

SLT-Mobitel launches 5G network in Sri Lanka

19 DEC 16:19

Dialog Axiata launches 5G network, connects 1.5 million subscribers

19 DEC 15:56

UK govt to ban AI-enabled nudification apps to protect women, girls

19 DEC 15:42

3 UK launches last-minute Christmas sale

Commentary

13:56

Video market set for slower growth ahead

11:38

Netflix buys Warner Bros to deepen content catalogue

11:11

KPN's mixed performance in Q3 raises questions for strategy day

15:26

Stock markets breaking records but what happened to Odido's IPO plans?

Background

01:04

The week in telecom: Wi-Fi bolt-ons take off to boost broadband growth, video market works on consolidation

01:39

The week in telecom: Netflix wins bidding for Warner Bros, Apple poaches new execs, Samsung debuts trifold

13:51

Proximus vs. Telenet: Proximus performs better in Q3 while Telenet uses up cash

14:16

Proximus Domestic still struggling with low margins

Complete profile

Before downloading the whitepaper, we would like to ask you to complete your profile with company and position. After confirming you will receive the white paper.