Intelsat picked SpaceX and its European competitor Arianespace to launch seven satellites within the coming years, with the contracts value a mixed $390 million.
Below the phrases of the contract, starting in 2022 Intelsat will launch 4 of its satellites on two SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets and two extra satellites on an Ariane 5 rocket. The ultimate seventh satellite tv for pc is contracted with each SpaceX and Arianespace, as a manner for Intelsat to verify it launches on time. Intelsat will award whichever firm does not launch the seventh satellite tv for pc with a contract for a separate later launch, the corporate instructed CNBC.
Intelsat declined CNBC’s request for touch upon how the $390 million will likely be cut up among the many two launch corporations, citing confidentiality agreements.
Maxar Technologies is constructing 5 of the satellites for Intelsat and Northrop Grumman is constructing the opposite two.
The satellites and launches are a part of Intelsat’s C-band spectrum “transition plan,” which was ordered by the Federal Communications Fee earlier this yr. In essence, the FCC needs to make use of a spread of frequencies for 5G cellular companies on the bottom that’s at present utilized by satellites corporations. To take action, the FCC is paying corporations to interchange satellites – a program that may see Intelsat bring in nearly $5 billion. The clearing funds may even assist lighten Intelsat’s debt load, which had climbed to virtually $15 billion earlier than the corporate voluntarily filed for Chapter 11 chapter safety in Might.
Intelsat plans for the primary two launches to happen within the third quarter of 2022, the third within the fourth quarter of 2022, and the ultimate launch within the second half of 2023.
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