Friday, November 03, 2017

Telesat Reviewing US Proposal for C-band Satellite Spectrum Use

          By Henry Stewart

Ottawa, ON based Telesat is reviewing a plan first proposed last month to the US Federal Aviation Commission (FCC) by Virginia based satellite provider Intelsat and Santa Clara, CA based  semiconductor manufacturing company Intel, which would allow terrestrial 5G networks use C-band satellite spectrum in the United States.

Telesat CEO Goldberg. As outlined in the November 2nd, 2017 Telesat press release, "Telesat Reports Results for the Quarter Ended September 30, 2017," the company reported consolidated revenues of $214 million, a decline of 4% ($10 million) from the same period in 2016. Photo c/o SpaceNews/Kate Patterson.

As outlined in the November 2nd, 2017 Space News post, "Telesat undecided on Intelsat, Intel C-band proposal," Telesat is one "of a handful of satellite operators with meaningful C-band capacity over the US, having less than Intelsat and SES, but more than Eutelsat." 

The article quoted Dan Goldberg, Telesat’s president and CEO, who said his firm is well aware that the FCC “is looking hard at candidate frequency bands to accommodate more terrestrial wireless growth, particularly for 5G,” and that C-band from 3.7 to 4.2 GHz is a popular candidate. C-band stretches from 3.4 to 4.2 GHz, but in the U.S., 3.7 to 4.2 is allocated to satellite operators and predominantly used for television broadcasts."

According to Goldberg, Telesat has yet to make a decision for or against the proposal.

Satellite overcapacity and the effects of newer technology, especially proposals for large constellations of low cost, low and medium Earth orbit communications satellites have disrupted the legacy players in the satellite industry. Satellite providers have struggled to adapt to the changes using a variety of technological, business and legal methods.

Last month, as outlined in the October 3rd, 2017 Space News post, "Intelsat, with Intel, proposes way for 5G to use satellite’s C-band spectrum," Intelsat and Intel made a proposal to "allow incumbent satellite operators to collaborate with terrestrial networks on ways to clear swaths of C-band from 3,700 to 4,200 MHz based on 5G needs and the presence of existing fixed satellite service (FSS) systems. Satellite operators would retain ownership of the spectrum, and auction the right for joint use of frequencies with terrestrial companies in cleared areas."
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Henry Stewart is the pseudonym of a Toronto based aerospace writer.

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