Page 66 - SAMENA Trends - May 2020

SATELLITE UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Airbus Supplies EU with Satellite Communications

Airbus has won the new satellite communications framework
contract for military and civil missions of the European Union
and its member states. This four-year framework contract
was awarded by the European Defence Agency (EDA) and is
estimated to be worth tens of millions of euros. “With this satellite
communications program, Airbus contributes to the construction
of joint capabilities for European defence and to its missions to
preserve civil and military peacekeeping”, said Dirk Hoke, Chief
Executive Officer of Airbus Defence and Space. The contract
named ‘EU SatCom Market’ will allow EU member states to
centralize their satellite communications requirements and obtain
coordinated, more economical and effective access to these
services. Some 32 contributing members, including 20 European
defence ministries, can now swiftly and efficiently get access
to satellite solutions and services through EDA, which has been
supplying the members of the ‘EU SatCom Market’ project with bands), the sale and rental of terminals, as well as the provision of
satellite communications capabilities since 2012. These satellite ‘turnkey solutions’, particularly in theatres of operations outside
communications solutions can be deployed worldwide. They the EU. For this contract, Airbus has teamed up with Marlink,
play an essential role in European civil and military peacekeeping which will supply some of these terminals and specific L- and Ku-
and security missions, as well as in technical and economic band services. A forerunner in telecommunications solutions for
development and cooperation missions. This is already the case military and governmental users, Airbus has unique experience
in several EU civilian and military missions and operations where in supplying satellite communications on a global scale and in
EU SatCom Market services have been successfully implemented all commercial and military frequency bands (L, C, Ku, Ka, X and
for several years. The armed forces of EU member states also UHF). These services can also benefit European operators of
use these solutions. The ‘EU SatCom Market’ contract covers the essential services.
provision of satellite communications (in C, Ku, Ka and L frequency

Intelsat Follows OneWeb into Chapter 11

Intelsat became the latest satellite service to adhere to a Federal Communications of this process, we will be on stronger
provider to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy Commission (FCC) order to free-up a total financial footing for the future, further
protection in the US, a move made as part of 280MHz of spectrum in the 3.7GHz to enhancing our industry-leading portfolio
of a broader financial restructure to see it 4.2GHz bands for 5G services. Intelsat of space-based communications services
through troubled waters around the release said it had already secured a commitment and paving the way for our continued
of C-band spectrum to the government. In around this financing as part of its innovation and investments to benefit our
a statement, Intelsat said the process will restructure: it stands to to receive $4.87 customers”. Rival OneWeb sought Chapter
likely result in a “substantial reduction” billion in relocation payments from the FCC 11 protection in late March, a move GSMA
of its legacy debt burden, while delivering relating to the spectrum move. Stephen Intelligence noted raised questions around
an estimated $1 billion in funding needed Spengler, Intelsat CEO, said: “At the end the LEO sector.

Czech Satellite to Launch via SpaceX

Another Czech satellite will be sent into The satellite, built at the Research and position in the sky. It will provide farmers,
orbit this year, launched from a Falcon 9 Testing Aviation Institute, will take detailed foresters and water management experts,
rocket by the US company SpaceX of Elon images of the earth’s surface and test as well as those researching climate
Musk, the daily Mladá fronta Dnes reports. a system for accurately determining its change, with detailed overviews.

66 MAY 2020