SES and Intelsat Propose Joint Use of C-band by Satellite and Terrestrial Mobile Operators in the U.S.
February 09 2018 - 2:45AM
Business Wire
U.S.-specific proposal would protect C-band
video and data transmissions and support accelerated 5G roll-out by
mobile operators
Leading satellite companies SES S.A. (Euronext Paris and
Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG) and Intelsat S.A. (NYSE: I) today
announced alignment on a proposal to the United States Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) which seeks to protect the wide
array of established satellite services in the 3700-4200 MHz C-band
downlink spectrum while opening a specified portion of that
spectrum for terrestrial mobile use.
The joint proposal, which was developed in response to the
unique U.S. telecommunications environment, aims to protect the
quality and reliability of the extensive services provided by
satellite operators in C-band to U.S. broadcasters, media and data
companies. The proposal ensures the continued seamless distribution
of video and audio programming to more than 100 million U.S.
households, and the reliable provision of critical data
connectivity in rural areas and emergency situations, as well as
services delivered to the U.S. government.
The proposal, which builds on an innovative model first put
forward to the FCC by Intelsat and Intel Corporation in October
2017, sets a commercial and technical framework that would enable
wireless operators to quickly access approximately 100 MHz of
nationwide C-band downlink spectrum in the U.S., speeding the
deployment of next generation 5G services.
The proposal specifies the creation of a consortium, which would
be open to all C-band operators providing service to all or a
portion of the lower 48 United States pursuant to FCC-issued
licenses or grants of market access. The consortium would oversee
the governance of the initiative, define and implement the
methodology for spectrum clearance, and serve as the sole interface
for market-based transactions with parties interested in deploying
terrestrial mobile services in specific portions of the C-band. SES
and Intelsat have begun briefing the FCC on this proposal.
Karim Michel Sabbagh, President and CEO of SES, said, “The
C-band is and remains a critical component of the U.S. network
architecture. Space and ground segment operators have invested
billions of dollars in U.S. C-band networks and connectivity and
generate important value out of it. It is therefore our duty and
mission to protect the C-band in the U.S. from any form of
disruption and preserve its use. The C-band satellite consortium is
to be set up to ensure that the expansion of the C-band ecosystem
in the U.S. will protect the interests of hundreds of established
services and millions of American end-users, while at the same time
paving the way for the creation of next generation 5G terrestrial
services.”
Peter Pitsch, Associate General Counsel, Intel, said, “Intel's
goal remains to facilitate timely access to high quality
terrestrial 5G services. We welcome the announcement of the
alignment of Intelsat and SES on significant details of the
proposal, and plan to continue to support this market-based
approach, which we believe paves the way for the accelerated
deployment of 5G in the U.S.”
Intelsat CEO Stephen Spengler said, “Our priority continues to
be creating a framework that provides certainty and protects the
quality and reliability of the services we provide to our media,
network services and government customers. Our proposed
market-based solution provides a speedy resolution to the U.S.
objective of accelerating deployment of 5G services. With Intelsat
and SES now in agreement on major tenets of the framework and with
the support of Intel, we are confident in our ability to implement
this proposal quickly and efficiently, ultimately to the benefit of
American consumers and the U.S. economy.”
About SES
SES is the world-leading satellite operator and the first to
deliver a differentiated and scalable GEO-MEO offering worldwide,
with more than 50 satellites in Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) and
12 in Medium Earth Orbit (MEO). SES focuses on value-added,
end-to-end solutions in two key business units: SES Video and SES
Networks. The company provides satellite communications services to
broadcasters, content and internet service providers, mobile and
fixed network operators, governments and institutions. SES’s
portfolio includes ASTRA, O3b and MX1, a leading media service
provider that offers a full suite of innovative digital video and
media services. SES is listed on the Euronext Paris and Luxembourg
Stock Exchange (ticker: SESG). Further information available at:
www.ses.com
Follow us on:
Social MediaBlogMedia LibraryWhite Papers
About Intelsat
Intelsat S.A. (NYSE: I) operates the world’s first Globalized
Network, delivering high-quality, cost-effective video and
broadband services anywhere in the world. Intelsat’s Globalized
Network combines the world’s largest satellite backbone with
terrestrial infrastructure, managed services and an open,
interoperable architecture to enable customers to drive revenue and
reach through a new generation of network services. Thousands of
organizations serving billions of people worldwide rely on Intelsat
to provide ubiquitous broadband connectivity, multi-format video
broadcasting, secure satellite communications and seamless mobility
services. The end result is an entirely new world, one that allows
us to envision the impossible, connect without boundaries and
transform the ways in which we live. For more information, visit
www.intelsat.com.
View source
version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180208006615/en/
SESMarkus Payer, +352 710 725 500Corporate Communications
& PRMarkus.Payer@ses.comorIntelsatDianne VanBeber, +1
703-559-7406Vice President, Investor
Relationsdianne.vanbeber@intelsat.comorIntelLisa Malloy, +1
202-270-7600Senior Director, Government
Relationslisa.malloy@intel.com
Intelsat (NYSE:I)
Historical Stock Chart
From Aug 2024 to Sep 2024
Intelsat (NYSE:I)
Historical Stock Chart
From Sep 2023 to Sep 2024