Analysts at investment bank BNP-Paribas have welcomed the $23 billion (€19.6bn) agreement from US cellular giant AT&T to acquire spectrum from EchoStar. But the bank says it is not the best news for cable operators. “Overall, we see this as a good deal for AT&T and the wireless industry in general, and a small negative […]

The news that AT&T is paying some $23 billion (€19.8bn) for terrestrial cellular spectrum to EchoStar has alerted many analysts to the implied value of EchoStar’s remaining telephony spectrum. Reports are numerous that both Elon Musk – who has long coveted EchoStar satellite spectrum – and AT&T rival T-Mobile could be next in line for […]

Pay-TV operator EchoStar is selling $23 billions-worth (€19.8bn) of terrestrial spectrum designed to improve 5G and home Internet access. AT&T and EchoStar have also agreed to enhance their long-term wholesale network services agreement, enabling EchoStar to operate as a hybrid mobile network operator providing wireless service under EchoStar’s Boost Mobile brand. AT&T will be the […]

Charlie Ergen’s EchoStar has signed a $1.3 billion (€1.1bn) initial contract with Canada-based MDA Space to build 100 or so low Earth orbiting ‘MDA Aurora’ satellites for its proposed global Direct-to-Device scheme, addressing a potential “350 million Americans” and “more than 7 billion additional people globally”. EchoStar says the total cost of its initial constellation […]

EchoStar, the communications and connectivity provider, has selected MDA Space as the prime contractor for EchoStar’s new non-terrestrial network (NTN) low Earth orbit (LEO) direct-to-device (D2D) satellite constellation. The initial contract, valued at approximately $1.3 billion (€1.1bn) includes the design, manufacturing and testing of the first tranche of over 100 software-defined MDA AURORA D2D satellites. The […]

EchoStar’s Dish pay-TV subsidiary has made its contracted interest payments, worth $114 million, to its lenders, and thus has avoided a potential default. The payments were due on July 1st and believed to have been made on July 30th and just within the 30-day limit. EchoStar will issue its quarterly results tomorrow (Friday, August 1st) […]

The 2 GHz frequency band is harmonised across Europe and allocated for ‘Mobile Satellite Services’. The capacity is currently licensed to Viasat (because of its purchase of Inmarsat) and EchoStar. The frequency licences expire in May 2027 and UK regulator Ofcom is calling for ideas on the future use to the capacity. 2 GHz is […]

Charlie Ergen, founder and chairman of the EchoStar/DISH combination, is reported to be negotiating with some of the company’s bond and debt-holders for extensions to its debt payment obligations. However, some debt interest payment obligations have – or are about to be – met. But there are still challenges. For example, the FCC is pushing […]

Charlie Ergen’s EchoStar share price rocketed 43 per cent on June 13th on news that Donald Trump has intervened with FCC chair Brendan Carr over the dispute between the FCC and EchoStar. June 16th saw EchoStar’s share price (Nasdaq:SATS) finish the day at $25.11 (€21.72). A week ago they were $15.99. In a nutshell, the […]

The Charlie Ergen-backed pay-TV operation EchoStar, which includes DISH as well as Hughes Network Systems, is reportedly contemplating the option of filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. EchoStar firmly denies the report, which originated in The WSJ. This move is perhaps a last-ditch part of the company’s strategy to protect its valuable wireless spectrum licences, which […]