Eutelsat is a leading satellite operator and the world's first integrated GEO-LEO satellite operator, formed in 2023 through the combination of Eutelsat and OneWeb. With a fleet of 34 geostationary satellites and a LEO constellation of over 600 satellites, the company provides global services for video broadcasting, broadband, data connectivity, and government communications. Eutelsat also delivers services for maritime and in-flight mobility, offering solutions like the Eutelsat Advance platform for high-end connectivity and digital platforms for broadcasters. Associated keywords include satellite communications, GEO-LEO infrastructure, and broadcast services.
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Eutelsat will retire Eutelsat 113 West A in 2023 without a replacement.
Eutelsat expects that prudent management of capacity and demand for C-band satellite services during and after the transition will allow it to provide substantially the same or better service to incumbent earth station operators without launching any new C-band satellites.
The $3,300,000,000 to $5,200,000,000 in bidder-covered costs are separate from $9,700,000,000 in accelerated clearing payments available to Intelsat, SES, Eutelsat, Telesat and Claro if they clear spectrum by early December 2023 instead of early December 2025.
Eutelsat anticipates having $14,900,000 in clearing costs to move its customers into the 200 megahertz of C-band still allocated for satellite use after the FCC’s December spectrum auction.
Eutelsat competitors SES and ViaSat have reconfigurable satellites scheduled to launch in 2021.
Eutelsat and Intelsat agreed to use an orbital slot they co-own at 48 degrees east in geosynchronous orbit.
Exotrail has two propulsion systems scheduled to launch next year on cubesats that Clyde Space is building for Eutelsat.
Intelsat, SES, Eutelsat, Telesat, and Claro are estimated to be worthy of $3,000,000,000 to $5,000,000,000 in subsidized replacement C-band infrastructure and eligible for up to $9,700,000,000 in incentives if they clear customers out of the spectrum by early December 2023.
Eutelsat estimates $150,000,000 of the $171,000,000 will be used to build and launch the replacement satellite.
Eutelsat-113 West A was launched in 2006.
Eutelsat estimates $21,000,000 of the $171,000,000 will cover new C-band ground infrastructure and other customer relocation activities.
Eutelsat estimates it will need to spend $171,000,000 to clear its portion of the C-band.
Eutelsat’s inclusion in the FCC’s $9,700,000,000 accelerated clearing program implies the replacement satellite will likely need to be ordered in the coming months to be in orbit by 2023.
Eutelsat-113 West A requires an unplanned renewal because of the C-band auction.
Eutelsat will replace one geostationary satellite it previously did not plan to replace as a result of the FCC decision to clear C-band spectrum for U.S. 0.005 kg networks.
Eutelsat intended to retire Eutelsat-113 West A by May 2023 at the latest if a replacement were not provided.
Eutelsat estimates that losing 60% of the C-band capacity satellite operators use today in the U.S. will result in a shortage and necessitate keeping four satellites in service.
Eutelsat disclosed the satellite need in its C-band transition plan, a document the FCC required from Eutelsat, Intelsat, SES, Telesat, and Claro by 2020-06-19.
The FCC estimates moving costs for Intelsat, SES, Eutelsat, Telesat, and Embratel Star One will be $3,000,000,000 to $5,000,000,000 to cover upgrading ground systems and building and launching replacement satellites.
The FCC’s accelerated clearing program requires SES, Intelsat, Eutelsat, Telesat, and Embratel Star One to clear the first 120 megahertz of C-band by 2021-12-05.