Advanced Television

FCC

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

FCC approves Bezos plan for 3,236 satellites

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has approved Amazon’s plan for its Project Kuiper scheme to launch 3236 satellites into orbit for a global ‘broadband by satellite’ Ka-band system. The FCC approval is an important regulatory step for Jeff Bezos who has earmarked $10 billion for Kuiper. In previous comments Jeff Bezos has said that he […]

August 3, 2020By Chris Forrester

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

FCC kicks off 5G mid-band spectrum auction

The US Federal Communications Commission is beginning its first auction of licences for prime, mid-band spectrum suitable for 5G. The auction will offer county-based Priority Access Licences in the 3550-3650 MHz band, which will encourage the rapid deployment of next-generation wireless networks in the band. The FCC says this is a critical step in freeing […]

July 23, 2020By Colin Mann

C-Band: SES wants $1.8bn from bankrupt Intelsat

SES Americom, the US division of the Luxemburg-based satellite operator, is seeking $1.8 billion (€1.5bn) in damages from Intelsat which is in bankruptcy. SES is alleging that Intelsat has breached the contract between the two operators which was agreed to handle the sale of C-band frequencies over the US. The SES filing, lodged on July […]

July 15, 2020By Chris Forrester

FCC must keep “unwavering focus” on C-Band

The National Association of [US] Broadcasters (NAB) in a filing to the FCC said the transition plans submitted by the various satellite operators as to the impending changes to C-band transmissions said they were optimistic about the transition. However, NAB cautioned the FCC to maintain an “unwavering focus on the protection of content distribution” over […]

July 15, 2020

FCC wants to approve Bezos’s mega-constellation

FCC chairman Ajit Pai says he wants to approve Jeff Bezos and Amazon’s massive plan for a mega-constellation of an initial 3,236 satellites known as Project Kuiper. Pai, on July 10th, said he has shared his proposal with the other key members of the FCC. He Tweeted: “Earlier today, I shared with my colleagues a […]

July 13, 2020By Chris Forrester

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