Page 95 - SAMENA Trends - June-July 2020

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Intelsat Files C-Band Spectrum Transition Plan with FCC to Accelerate

America’s 5G Buildout

Intelsat, operator of the world’s largest quality media distribution and contribution throughout the U.S.
integrated satellite and terrestrial network, services – uninterrupted – from the 3.7 to Intelsat and other satellite operators
today filed its C-band spectrum transition 4.0 gigahertz (GHz) portion of the C-band participating in the FCC’s accelerated
plan with the U.S. Federal Communications to the 4.0 to 4.2 GHz portion of the band. C-band clearing plan are responsible for
Commission (FCC). “Intelsat is filing its In addition to articulating the company’s incurring the upfront costs associated
comprehensive transition plan after having strategy to procure, design, build and with clearing 300 MHz of the spectrum
spent more than two years proactively launch seven satellites, Intelsat’s transition and moving their existing services to
working with the FCC, our customers, plan details how the company will: the upper portion of the band. Intelsat
industry stakeholders, vendors and other • Migrate 80-plus broadcast, cable, radio, estimates these upfront investments will
satellite operators to create a clear path religious and government customers to cost the company $1.6 to $1.7 billion. In
for meeting the FCC’s accelerated clearing the upper 200 megahertz (MHz) of the addition to receiving reimbursement for
deadlines and ensuring the U.S. maintains C-band, including the corresponding reasonable upfront costs associated with
its leadership in 5G,” said Intelsat Chief changes required at 3,500 cable head- clearing the spectrum and transitioning
Services Officer Mike DeMarco. “With our ends and 13,500 affiliate earth stations incumbent services to the upper portion of
detailed plan finalized and our supply • Install 60,000 5G signal-blocking filters the band, Intelsat is eligible to receive up
chain engaged, Intelsat looks forward across the U.S. in order to mitigate to $4.87 billion in incentive payments for
to supporting the FCC in successfully post-transition interference successfully meeting the Commission’s
transitioning the C-band spectrum and • Consolidate multiple telemetry, tracking accelerated deadlines of clearing 120
accelerating America’s path to 5G – all and control (TT&C)/Gateway antennas MHz of spectrum (3.7 to 3.82 GHz) by
while safeguarding the high-quality media into two locations on the East and West December 5, 2021, and the remaining 180
broadcast services on which more than Coasts of the U.S. MHz (3.82 to 4.0 GHz) by December 5,
100 million American households rely.” • Contract with U.S.-based companies 2023. Reimbursements will be funded by
Earlier this week, Intelsat announced that USSI Global, WESCO, ATCi and the winning bidders of the FCC’s public
it has selected U.S. manufacturers, Maxar Convergent to perform aspects of the C-band auction, in line with the FCC’s
Technologies and Northrop Grumman, transition and installation work required emerging technologies framework.
to design and manufacture satellites on the ground at thousands of earth
required to transition the company’s high- stations and cable television head-ends

Satellite Connectivity Supports Ambulance Services in Dubai

has announced that it is providing always-on satellite connectivity
to Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services through its partner
Cygnus Telecom, a provider of customized telecommunications
and surveillance solutions for business needs, headquartered in
Dubai. Following the launch of Mobile Laboratory Units by Dubai
Corporation for Ambulance Services to provide free home-based
testing for the elderly and people with special needs, Cygnus
Telecom, the master distributor of Thuraya’s voice solutions, has
equipped 12 ambulances with Thuraya X5-Touch satellite phones
so that paramedics remain connected while on duty in the remote
areas of Dubai or on marine ambulances at sea. The Android-
based Thuraya X5-Touch devices offer various innovative safety
features useful for medical responders, including advanced
navigation, tracking and a built-in SOS button for emergencies.
In addition to providing satellite connectivity, they keep users
Continuing evidence of the importance of wireless connected over terrestrial telecom networks so that they are also
telecommunications during the health crisis comes from the UAE, available on their local mobile numbers. Thuraya and Cygnus
where satellite services are playing a part in the UAE’s efforts to Telecom have long supported medical missions within the Middle
contain the coronavirus pandemic – in this case through Dubai’s East and Africa with satellite-powered telemedicine solutions,
ambulance services. Mobile satellite services company Thuraya including teleconferencing kits and connected ambulances.

95 JUNE-JULY 2020