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 Link to Intelsat.com

                                    
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 All Former Employees of Intelsat 

 
The IRAA meets annually each October for its General Assembly and Social Gathering. It also holds an early Summer picnic jointly with COMARA (Comsat Alumni & Retirees Assoc.) and Intelsat staff between MAY-JUN; a biennial Winter Social between JAN-FEB and a biennial late Summer Social between AUG-SEP.

All events provide a great opportunity for old friends & former colleagues to gather for memorable occasions of fellowship and camaraderie.


If you are not yet a member of the IRAA and would like to join, please CLICK here.

 

 

SES under considerable market pressure
Posted:  12 November 2024

November 11, 2024 | Advanced Television

November 7th saw satellite operator SES present its latest set of numbers. By and large the all-important analysts thought they were solid, and there was an initial uptick with share prices jumping from €3.50 to €3.81. But within a few hours that optimism had vanished and SES suffered the ignomany of falling to a 52-week ‘all time low’ of just €3.44. November 8th saw a further decline to €3.39 by the end of the day and yet another all time low.

.Click HERE for further details from Advanced Television

 

Former Intelsat President Ramu Potarazu Joins Lynk Global as CEO
Posted:  9 November 2024
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By Rachel Jewett | November 8, 2024

Lynk Global named former Intelsat President Ramu Potarazu as CEO on Thursday as the company goes through a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) merger.

This comes two months after Lynk announced CCO Dan Dooley would become CEO. According to the Nov. 7 announcement, Dooley will resume the position of CCO. A Lynk representative confirmed to Via Satellite that appointing Potarazu was part of a planned executive realignment and Dooley was acting in an interim capacity.

Click HERE for further details from Via Satellite.

 

SES YTD 2024 and Q3 2024 Results
Posted:  8 November 2024

Press release 07 Nov. 2024

Luxembourg, 7 November 2024 -- SES S.A. announces financial results for the nine months and three months ended 30 September 2024 with solid operational and financial performance driving the Full Year 2024 revenue and Adjusted EBITDA outturn which is now expected to close at the top end of SES’s financial outlook range.

Click HERE for further details from SES.

 

SES Tracks With Expectations in Q3 of 2024
Posted:  8 November 2024
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By Rachel Jewett | November 7, 2024

Government revenue within the segment rose 5% year-over-year, while Fixed Data and Mobility declined 6% and 7%, respectively. Although Fixed Data was down year-over-year, it grew 16% sequentially due to new cloud business

Decline in the Media business slowed down in the third quarter. Revenue of 233 million euros ($251 million) was down 3% year-over-year after declining more than 5% in the first two quarters of the year. The segment has benefited from double-digit growth in sports & events revenue this year.

Year-to-date, group revenue of about 1.5 billion euros ($1.6 billion) is down 1% year-over-year.

Click HERE for further details from Via Satellite.

 

SES results ahead of expectations
Posted:  8 November 2024

By Chris Forrester | November 7, 2024

Sami Kassab, an equity analyst at investment bank BNP/Paribas, summed up the latest (Q3 and year-to-date) revenue numbers from satellite operator SES and describing them as “solid… and ahead of consensus”. His comments were made despite the ever-declining income from SES’s once-vital Video division.

But even in Video there was an improvement (-3 per cent decline for this latest quarter-year, against -5.5 per cent lower for the year to date). Video/Media now represents 47 per cent of overall income for SES and management confirmed during the analysts’ call that it expects Video/Media to continue showing a reduced rate of decline at 3 per cent in Q4 and expect Government, Fixed Data and Mobility to show a sequential improvement in Q4. Aviation and Cruise were up in high single digits in the year to date.

.Click HERE for further details from Advanced Television

 

'Space junk' threat to satellites
Posted:  27 October 2024

October 25, 2024

The problems caused by the loss of Intelsat’s i33e craft on October 19th, which has now been declared a total loss, has highlighted the problems with other dangerous space junk. A report from Quartz says that there are now about 3,000 dead satellites littered across space, and some 34,000 piece of large space junk and millions of smaller pieces posing threats to orbiting craft.

.Click HERE for further details from Advanced Television

 

Europe Taps Group Led by Eutelsat, Hipasat, and SES to Build IRIS2 Constellation
Posted:  2 November 2024
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By Rachel Jewett | October 31, 2024

The European Commission selected a team led by Eutelsat, Hispasat, and SES to build IRIS² — Europe’s future multi-orbit satellite constellation.

The three European satellite operators will lead a consortium called SpaceRISE, which includes European subcontractors: Thales Alenia Space, OHB, Airbus Defence and Space, Telespazio, Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Hisdesat, and Thales SIX.

With this news, the procurement enters its final phase and the European Commission said it expects to sign the contract by December 2024.

IRIS² will be Europe’s third flagship space program after Galileo and Copernicus. It is planned as a constellation of 290 satellites in both Medium-Earth Orbit (MEO) and Low-Earth (LEO) to provide secure connectivity services to the EU and its Member States, along with broadband connectivity.

Click HERE for further details from Via Satellite.

 

SES: "We can collaborate"
Posted: 24 October 2024

By Christ Forrester | October 21, 2024

Mohammed Marashi (SES, SVP/Future Business & Innovation) delivered a fascinating Keynote at the SVSW and its Satellite Innovation sessions, explaining the might of SES which carries 6400 TV channels to some 363 million viewers in 130 countries. But the fastest-growing segment at SES was non-video in particular mobility and data and SES is building rapidly on these changes.

Marashi said that SES was now investing in start-ups, and was co-developing new products and working with consortia on these developments and also collaborating with its existing customers on new developments. He described these developments as being “radical” for SES, and even “disruptive” and the intention was to accelerate how things were evolving. The old view at SES even in terms of the O3b fleet came from its experience with geostationary satellites. In reality we needed to be thinking more of the O3b fleet as LEO craft.

Click HERE for further details from Satnews

 

Intelsat 33e breaks up in goestationary orbit
Posted:  
21 October 2024

Jason Rabinow | October   19, 2024

TAMPA, Fla. — The Intelsat 33e satellite has broken up in geostationary orbit (GEO) and lost power, ceasing communications services for customers across Europe, Africa and parts of Asia Pacific.

Intelsat said Oct. 19 it is working with satellite maker Boeing to address an anomaly that emerged earlier that day, but “believe it is unlikely that the satellite will be recoverable.” An Intelsat spokesperson said the satellite was not insured at the time of the issue.

The U.S. Space Force reported it is tracking 20 pieces of debris associated with the spacecraft.

Click HERE  for further details from Spacenews.com

 

NAB Concerned About SES-Intelsat Spectrum Stranglehold
Posted:  18 October 2024

Art Bertenthal | Oct. 17, 2024

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17, 2024 - A major association of television and radio broadcasters is concerned about a proposed merger between two large satellite service providers.

The National Association of Broadcasters, based in Washington D.C., stated in comments filed with the Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday that the proposed $3.1 billion merger could impact the quality and cost of C-band satellite services.

.Click HERE for further details from Advanced Television

 

Intelsat CEO David Wajsgras Explains Why the Time was Right for the SES Deal
Posted:  1 October 2024
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By Mark Holmes & Rachel Jewett | September 30 2024

Intelsat CEO David Wajsgras shares why the time was finally right to do the deal with SES, answers some of the ongoing questions about the acquisition, and talks about the importance of Intelsat’s terminal strategy.

The SES deal to acquire Intelsat will be remembered as one of the biggest news stories of 2024. After years of back-and-forth, will-they-won’t-they, two of the largest satellite operators are now working through a combination, pending regulatory approval. But what does it mean for Intelsat, a brand with a storied history in satellite communications?

Via Satellite recently spoke with Intelsat CEO David Wajsgras, who has long promoted the value of consolidation. He sees the answer to competing with well-funded disruptors Starlink and Kuiper in marshalling a “tri-orbit” fleet of the companies’ Geostationary (GEO and Medium-Earth Orbit (MEO) satellites, supplemented by Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) capacity, underpinned by tech-savvy terminals and managed services. In this interview, Wajsgras shares why the time was finally right to do the deal with SES, answers some of the ongoing questions about the acquisition, and talks about the importance of Intelsat’s terminal strategy.

Click HERE for further details from Via Satellite.

 

Intelsat gets a license to rescue Galaxy 25
Posted:  30 September 2024

September 27, 2024
By Chris Forrester

The FCC, on September 25th, issued permission for a rescue attempt on Intelsat’s ‘drifting’ Galaxy 25 satellites with a Mission Extension Vehicle (MEV/Space Tug) over the next few days. The FCC is keen on the whole exercise being seen as an experimental mission.

In its permission, the FCC stated: “After an extended period of drifting, and pursuant to a separate experimental authorisation, Galaxy 25 will dock with the mission extension vehicle (MEV), and the MEV will perform a series of tests while docked.”

 

.Click HERE for further details from Advanced Television

 

SES Issues Dividend Payment to Shareholders
Posted:  30 September 2024
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By Mark Holmes | September 27 2024

SES has announced details of a new dividend payment to shareholders. The SES Board of Directors has approved the payment of an interim dividend of 0.25 euros ($0.28) per A-share (0.1 euros per B-share) to be paid to shareholders in October, in line with the announcement made in February 2024 and SES’s commitment to shareholder returns. SES made the announcement, Sept. 27.

SES says the implementation of a semi-annual dividend distribution brings greater alignment between the cash generation of the business and cash returns to shareholders. The interim dividend to be paid next month will be followed, subject to shareholder approval, by the payment of a final dividend of at least 0.25 euros per A-share (0.1 euros per B-share) in April 2025.

Click HERE for further details from Via Satellite

 


Vodaphone to Adopt Intelsat's Flex Portfolio of Connectivity
Posted:  23 September 2024
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By Rachel Jewett | September 22 2024

Vodafone is expanding its work with Intelsat to bring on-the-move satellite communication to organizations operating in hard-to-reach areas or disaster zones.

Vodafone and Intelsat announced Monday that Vodafone is adding Intelsat’s Flex portfolio to its satellite connectivity product range. This includes communications-on-the-move (COTM) with a vehicle-mounted antenna, and communications-on-the-pause (COTP) with a compact satellite terminal. Flex operates on Intelsat’s Geostationary Orbit (GEO) network.

This expanded connectivity will support businesses, governments and charities, including the telco’s charitable arm, Vodafone Foundation, with health and education initiatives in Europe and Africa.

Click HERE for f further details from Via Satellite

 

Intelsat Unveils Terminal Strategy to Power Multi-Orbit Satellite Services
Posted:  17 September 2024

September 16, 2024

Intelsat Invests in Paris-based Greenerwave, Launches NextGen Mobility Terminal Development

MCLEAN, Va. – Intelsat operator of one of the world’s largest integrated satellite and terrestrial networks and leading provider of in-flight connectivity (IFC), will be the first operator in the world to offer multi-orbit solutions for all relevant business units by the first half of 2025 thanks to a new satellite terminal strategy that will deliver advanced capabilities and improved economics.

“Intelsat is making strategic bets on new technologies, including new investments in innovative terminal providers,” said Intelsat CEO David Wajsgras. “More and more customers will come to count on the broad reliability profile of multi-orbit solutions, and it is key to our future success. No single-orbit solution can match what Intelsat can offer when it comes to performance, resiliency and commercial flexibility.”

Click HERE for further details from Intelsat

 

Softbank Corp, and Intelsat Launch Landmark Collaboration to Create Ubiquitous Network
Posted:  17 September 2024

September 16, 2024

MCLEAN, Va. – SoftBank Corp. (“SoftBank”) and Intelsat signed a groundbreaking collaboration agreement that will lead to the launch of a single “Ubiquitous Network” enabling customers to stay connected everywhere they go. SoftBank and Intelsat will jointly lead research and development of seamless 5G connections between terrestrial mobile networks and satellite communications networks.

In a society where everyone and everything is increasingly dependent on staying connected, convenient, and always-on, telecommunications are essential. However, despite the coming realization of autonomous mobility with automobiles, ships, drones and other vehicles, many areas are still without ground-based mobile network coverage and require separate devices and accounts to connect to non-terrestrial networks.

Click HERE for further details from Intelsat

 

Intelsat on a roll
Posted:  15 September 2024

September 13, 2024
By Chris Forrester

Satellite giant Intelsat used IBC to announce an impressive set of new business wins and services. Top of the list is a contract for a hybrid TV distribution service for A&E Networks, now branded as Hearst Networks. Intelsat will transmit Hearst’s portfolio of channels to “hundreds” of points across Europe thanks to its seamless satellite-terrestrial connection. The signals are beamed from Intelsat’s 1 degree West satellite and available to some 16 million cable, broadcast and DTH homes. Pascale Fromont, Intelsat’s VP/GM Media, talking exclusively to Advanced-Television, explained that global media customers such as A+E Networks increasingly want to work with a single operator that can provide seamless connections from satellite to ground-based Internet Protocol distribution networks. “Intelsat has visibility across the full distribution network, even when it spans multiple technologies and we can enable our customers to reach more end users across direct-to-home (DTH), cable, and IPTV, in order to reach viewers.”

.Click HERE for further details from Advanced Television

 

Intelsat fined for "unauthorised satellite operation"
Posted:  16 August 2024

August 15, 2024

The FCC has fined Intelsat $160,000 (€145k) for the satellite operator’s “unauthorised operation of its Galaxy 35 satellite.” Intelsat admitted to violating the FCC’s rules, and agreed to implement a compliance plan, and will pay a $160,000 civil penalty.

The FCC’s Enforcement Bureau, in its statement, said that Intelsat in April 2022 “requested authority to construct, deploy, and operate its Galaxy 35 satellite to provide Fixed Satellite Service on a noncarrier basis at the 95.15° West orbital location”. In October 2022, Intelsat amended the pending application for Galaxy 35 and instead sought authority to deploy this satellite at 95.05° West.

Intelsat obtained special temporary authority to conduct telemetry, tracking and command (TT&C) transmissions while Galaxy 35 drifted from its in-orbit test location toward its authorized location of 95.05° West. In a request for further special temporary authority to drift Galaxy 35, Intelsat incorrectly advised the FCC that the satellite was then being drifted toward its authorised location, which was 95.05° West. However, Intelsat was in fact drifting Galaxy 35 toward 94.85° West.

Click HERE for further details from Advanced Television

 

SES H1 2024
Posted:  2 August 2024

Luxembourg, 1 August 2024 -- SES S.A. announces financial results for the six months ended 30 June 2024. 

H1 performance underpins 2024 Full Year outlook
•    Revenue of €978 million (-0.6% YOY) and Adjusted EBITDA of €525 million (-0.9% YOY) 
•    Networks (+5.0% YOY) including 8.4% YOY growth in Government  
•    Video performance -6.7% YOY with important new long-term renewals signed 
•    Adjusted Free Cash Flow (AFCF) of €146 million and Net Leverage at 1.7x (including cash & cash equivalents of €2.1 billion) 
•    2024 revenue outlook (of €1,940 - 2,000 million) on track and unchanged
•    2024 Adjusted EBITDA outlook (of €950 - 1,000 million) tracking to upper half of the expected range 

Fully Funded & highly accretive Intelsat acquisition will create a stronger multi-orbit competitor
•    Regulatory process underway and on track for closing during H2 2025 
•    Integration & synergies planning progressing to ensure maximum possible execution from Day 1
•    Combination doubles revenue from growing Networks segments and unlocks €370 million of run-rate synergies (70% within 3 years)
•    Mid-single digit Adjusted EBITDA CAGR (2024E-2028E) to drive ‘normalised’ AFCF of more than €1 billion by 2027E/2028E
•    SES’s investment grade rating re-affirmed and Net Leverage expected to be below 3x within 12-18 months after closing

Adel Al-Saleh, CEO of SES, commented: “H1 2024 revenue and Adjusted EBITDA were in line with our expectations reflecting solid execution. We are on track to deliver on our Full Year 2024 financial objectives. Networks, which now represents more than 50% of our business, continued to grow supported by key wins in the government segment, while our Media business secured additional customer commitments to reinforce our solid cash generation fundamentals.

The entry of O3b mPOWER into commercial service in April was a key milestone for SES with committed customers now being deployed onto the system. We remain on track to expand the initial constellation starting with the next launch of satellites 7-8 at the end of this year, followed in 2025 with satellites 9-11 and 2026 with satellites 12-13, accelerating our profitable long-term growth trajectory.

Click HERE for further details from SES;

 

Forrester's Digest: SES H1: Video revenues under pressure
Posted 2 August 2024

August 1, 2024

Satellite operator SES has reported €978 million in H2 revenues, down 0.6 per cent y-o-y. 2024 revenue outlook (of €1.94 billion – €2 billion) remains unchanged. CEO Adel Al-Saleh said that the company’s acquisition of Intelsat is “on track” and remains due to close later next year.

“The entry of O3b mPOWER into commercial service in April was a key milestone for SES with committed customers now being deployed onto the system. We remain on track to expand the initial constellation starting with the next launch of satellites 7-8 at the end of this year, followed in 2025 with satellites 9-11 and 2026 with satellites 12-13, accelerating our profitable long-term growth trajectory,” Al-Saleh stated. “With the launch of ASTRA 1P to 19.2E in June, we are leveraging the latest technological innovation to sustain our most important cash-generative media neighborhood for the long-term, while simultaneously capturing significant CapEx efficiencies.”

Click HERE for further details from Satnews

 

SES Shows Momentum in Gov and Mobility in the First Half of 2024
Posted:  2 August 2024
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By Rachel Jewett | August 1, 2024

Satellite operator SES reported strong momentum in its Networks business, particularly in the Government and Mobility sectors, as it reported its first half 2024 financial results on Aug. 1.

Overall, SES reported 978 million euro ($1.1 billion) of revenue in the first half of 2024, down less than 1% year-over-year. Net profit was 73 million euros ($79 million).

The Networks business continues to grow, increasing revenue in H1 by 5% year-over-year to 523 million euros ($565 million). The Networks business now makes up more than 54% of the company’s overall revenue.

Mobility saw the largest growth in the Networks segment, up 11% year-over-year to 154 million euros ($166 million).

SES CEO Adel Al-Saleh told investors on Thursday that within the Mobility segment, maritime saw double-digit growth in the first half of the year with periodic revenue and new cruise ships added to the service portfolio. Aviation saw high single-digit growth for new contracts signed to support in-flight connectivity (IFC) partners.

Click HERE for f further details from Via Satellite

 

Intelsat Advances 3GPP Approval for Unified Satellite and Terrestrial Network
Posted:  27 July 2024

By Rachel Jewett | July 26, 2024

The 3GPP mobile standards organization has approved an Intelsat-led Ku-band project for standardization. Intelsat led the effort with support from 35 companies and 3GPP community members, including other satellite operators, terrestrial vendors, and mobile network operators (MNOs).

The approval of the “Ku-band Work Package” means that Intelsat and other satellite providers will now begin the process leading to full certification to deploy Ku-band-based 5G New Radio (NR) services, targeted to be completed at the end of 2025.

Click HERE for further details from Via Satellite

 

Intelsat C-band 'Insider Trading' case dismissed
Posted:  27 July 2024

July 26, 2024

A long-running Class Action against certain Intelsat directors and their investment firms and its then chairman (Dave McGlade) alleging inside trading has been dismissed by a US Appeals Court.

The Class Action, led by a hedge fund Walleye Opportunities Master Fund, and others, had “failed to adequately show that the insiders learned adverse news about [satellite] broadcast frequency licencing prior to selling their shares,” stated the Appeals Court.

The Court found that the two investment firms which were shareholders in Intelsat (Silver Lake Group and BC Partners) as well as Intelsat’s chairman Dave McGlade had not known about

a key meeting between the then CEO at Intelsat.

.Click HERE for further details from Advanced Television

 

SES + RTL Deutschland extend partnership across Germany + Austria on ASTRA 19.2 degrees East
Posted 19 July 2024

July 18, 2024

SES and RTL Deutschland have extended their long-term partnership to deliver a wide range of high-quality range of TV channels to audiences across Germany and Austria -- this extension will run to the end of the decade.  RTL Deutschalnd's TV offering will also continue to be available on HD-SES's high-definition satellite TV platform in Germany.

The agreement, which covers the distribution of SD, HD and UHD TV channels via SES’s prime TV neighborhood at 19.2 degrees East, will help ensure that viewers across the region can access their favorite programs with an optimal viewing experience, including RTL, VOX, ntv, NITRO, SUPER RTL, TOGGO plus, RTLup, VOXup, RTLZWEI and the RTL UHD event channel.

In addition to satellite capacity, SES will now provide uplinking services for RTL Deutschland’s TV channels directly from its facilities in Munich, Germany and Betzdorf, Luxembourg.

Click HERE for further details from Satnews

 

The Viasat/Inmarsat Deal: One Year Out
Posted:  19 July 2024

One year after the Inmarsat acquisition closed, Via Satellite talks up with the Viasat leadership team about the business integration, ViaSat-3 ramifications, and how they see the opportunity for global scale amid a changing industry.

By Rachel Jewett | June 25, 2024

When the acquisition closed last summer, the Carlsbad, California-based business was preparing for global expansion with the trio of ViaSat-3 high capacity satellites that had been in the works for years. U.K.-based Inmarsat brought global coverage to the table, with its fleet of Ka-band and L-band satellites.

What happened next has been well documented. Soon after clearing a lengthy approval process to close the deal in early summer of 2023, Viasat experienced a shocking setback when the first ViaSat-3 satellite had a major anomaly, slashing the satellite’s available capacity. Later that summer, the I-6 F2 satellite also suffered an “unprecedented” anomaly. These anomalies forced the operator to recalibrate while it was going through the integration process.

Now one year after the acquisition closed, Via Satellite caught up with the Viasat leadership team to talk about the business integration, ViaSat-3 ramifications, and how they see the opportunity for global scale amid a changing industry.

Click HERE for further details from Via Satellite

 

Help Us Find These Members
Posted: 
15 July 2024

We have lost contact with these members below.  If you have any information on how to contact them, please send us an EMail at:  info@myiraa.com

Geoffrey Cheadle
Mildred Coover
John Crispin
Lydia Esguerra
Fred Foldvary
Roy Lee Huffman
Jethro Shedrick

 

Intelsat confirms another space tug rescue mission
Posted:  1 July 2024

June 28, 2024

Intelsat has signed a contract with Starfish Space for a geostationary satellite space tug servicing mission which will take place in 2026.

Starfish Space’s ‘Otter’ rescue satellite will attach itself to an already retired Intelsat craft to validate that the system can work. This test linkage will be followed by another rescue mission for an – as yet – unspecified active satellite.

Intelsat already has a two rescue tugs working in space. Its Intelsat 10-02 craft is using Northrop Grumman’s Mission Extension Vehicle MEV-2 service vehicle. The rescue was originally planned to last for five years (from 2021) but in May Intelsat announced that it had extended the contract with Northrop Grumman to keep MEV-2 in place and married to Intelsat 10-02 for an additional four years.

.Click HERE for further details from Advanced Television

 

Starfish Space to extend Intelsat satellite life in first commercial mission
Posted:  27 June 2024

Jason Rabinow | June 26, 2024

TAMPA, Fla. — Starfish Space aims to extend the operational life of a geostationary Intelsat satellite in 2026 after reaching a deal for its first commercial servicing mission.

Jean-Luc Foreliger, Intelsat’s senior vice president of space systems, said Starfish is in the middle of picking a rocket to launch its mini-fridge-sized Otter servicer between October 2025 and June 2026.

Starfish would first try to attach Otter to a retired Intelsat satellite parked in graveyard orbit, some 360 kilometers above the geostationary arc, to validate its approach and docking capabilities.

Click HERE  for further details from Spacenews.com

 

SES Announces Successful Syndication and Raising of C3 Billion Acquisition Financing
Posted:  21 June 2024

€2.1 billion bridge facility provided by a group of relationship banks • US$1 billion bank term loan facility to cover part of the financing requirements • Extension of existing €1.2 billion revolving credit facility by two additional years

Luxembourg, 19 June 2024 – SES S.A. announces the successful syndication of a €3 billion equivalent acquisition financing package to support the earlier announced agreement for SES to acquire Intelsat S.A.. Prior to the Intelsat deal announcement, Deutsche Bank AG and Morgan Stanley jointly had underwritten a €3 billion bridge facility to support SES’s financing requirements as part of the agreement to acquire Intelsat. This €3 billion bridge facility has been successfully syndicated now, with a highly oversubscribed level of commitments, to an international group of existing relationship and new banks in the form of a €2.1 billion bridge facility and US$1 billion term loan. The term loan was upsized in syndication on the back of a strong response from the bank group.

Click HEREfor further details from SES;

 

Inside SIA's 2024 State of the Satellite Industry Report
Posted:  17 June 2024

By Rachel Jewett | June 13, 2024

The global satellite industry grew revenue by 2% in 2023, as most segments of the industry except satellite TV saw gains, according to the Satellite Industry Association’s (SIA) annual report.

SIA released the 27th annual State of the Satellite Industry report on June 13, produced by BryceTech. The report takes stock of activity in segments across the industry, from manufacturing, satellite services, launch, space sustainability, and ground equipment.

While launches and Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) constellations garner the most media headlines, the report shows that launch continues to be a small fraction of overall industry revenue — and the declining satellite TV market still holds a major share of industry revenue.

Click HERE for further details from Via Satellite

 

Intelsat bankruptcy: Case closed
Posted:  11 June 2024

June 10, 2024 | Advanced Television

Intelsat emerged from its Chapter 11 bankruptcy in February 2022. However, there were many smaller matters that its bankruptcy court still had outstanding, not least a dispute between Intelsat and SES over how the FCC’s C-band incentive payments were to be divided.

Over the past few months, these minor elements have all been resolved. Smaller claims have been settled and with the agreed purchase by SES of Intelsat itself now progressing (although not likely to wrap until later next year), the bankruptcy court has determined that all matters it was handling have now been settled to its satisfaction.

Judge Keith Phillips, who had handled the bankruptcy in his ruling, said simply “The Chapter 11 case having been fully administered, the case is hereby closed.” The court issued its Final Decree to all the (mostly earlier) interested parties in a formal notification on June 6th.

.Click HERE for further details from Advanced Television

 

SES's Acquisition of Intelsat Marks a New Chapter in the History of the Space Age
Posted:  5 June 2024

By Roger Cochetti | June 4, 2024

The recent announcement that Luxemburg-based satellite operator SES acquired Intelsat, the former inter-governmental satellite organization, represents the final paragraph of what I describe as the third chapter of the Space Age. The next Space Age chapter has begun and it will change many rules. To make sense of this emerging Space Age environment, we need to take a brief look at the Space Age itself and how it’s gotten us to the next chapter, what I’ll call “Chapter IV: In Space, Everything’s Up for Grabs.”

Historians have various ways to demark the Space Age. I prefer four chapters beginning in the 1930’s with “Chapter I: Space as a Major Weapon” when German scientists pioneered the development of rocketry as a major weapon system. Through the V-2 Rocket, the world saw major weapons coming down from Space potentially destroying entire cities. The emerging US and Soviet superpowers watched carefully; and German rockets and rocket scientists were soon the two superpowers’ most sought-after commodities when the War ended. This led to the development of larger and more powerful Soviet and American rockets during the postwar years and their being equipped with nuclear weapons or spy cameras. During Chapter I (1930’s-1950’s), the Space Age began as a military event.

Click HERE for further details from Via Satellite

 

SES Launches SES Orbits IFC Network
Posted:
31 May 2024

 

May 30, 2024

SES has reached agreements-in-principle with several regional satellite network operators to launch the SES Open Orbits™ Inflight Connectivity (IFC) Network to enable seamless connectivity services to airlines around the world.

This fully interoperable Ka-band platform will combine the GEO and MEO satellite networks of SES; NEO Space Group (NSG), a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF); AeroSat Link (ASL), a subsidiary of China Satcom; and Hughes Communications India (HCI).

Click HERE for further details from Via Satellite

 

Intelsat Signs Four-Year MEV Satellite Life Extension Deal with Northrop Grumman
Posted:
24 May 2024

 

by Jeffrey Hill | May 23, 2024

Satellite operator Intelsat has signed with Northrop Grumman‘s SpaceLogistics to utilize its two Mission Extension Vehicles (MEVs) and service its satellites for at least another four years. The contract agreement, announced Thursday, is itself a life-extension of a six-year-long partnership between the two companies that has showcased how the MEV-1 and MEV-2 vehicles can extend the life of aging Geostationary Orbit (GEO satellites beyond their typical 15-20 year lifespan.

SpaceLogistics’ MEV-1 vehicle docked with Intelsat’s IS-901 in 2020, marking the first time that two commercial spacecraft docked and began mission-extension service in GEO. After docking, MEV-1 pointed IS-901 to targeted antennas on Earth. Intelsat said the maneuver extended the satellite’s life for another five years.

. Click HERE for further details from Via Satellite

 

Viasat Stock Dips After Operator Projects Flat Revenue in FY '25n
Posted:
24 May 2024

Rachel Jewett | May 23, 2024

Viasat posted record revenue for fiscal year 2024, its first year including Inmarsat’s contribution, post-acquisition. But the company’s stock dipped 16% on Wednesday as Viasat projected flat revenue in the coming year due to competition in the broadband market and delays with aircraft connectivity installations.

The satellite operator delivered record revenue of $4.3 billion in fiscal year 2024, a 68% increase from $2.6 billion a year ago. This is the first year to include Inmarsat’s contribution after Viasat closed the transaction on May 30, 2023.

. Click HERE for further details from Via Satellite

 

Intelsat 2023 Annual Financial report (audited)
Posted:  10 May 2024
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Click HERE for further details from Intelsat

 

SES and Intelsat: the Biggest Deal of 2024
Posted:  8 May 2024

A collection of Via Satellite interviews and in-depth analysis on the combination of two satellite industry giants.

After years of rumors of a possible merger, SES announced on April 30 that it will acquire fellow satellite operator Intelsat in a $3.1 billion deal. Bringing together these two industry giants will create the largest Geostationary (GEO) satellite operator in existence, with a fleet of more than 100 satellites.

While not wholly surprising, the deal will likely have a major impact on the satellite industry. With massive GEO assets, SES’s Medium-Earth Orbit (MEO) fleet, and Intelsat’s agreement for Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) capacity, leaders say this deal will create a formidable multi-orbit operator to go after growth markets like government and mobility.

In this Content Collection, Via Satellite takes a close look at the acquisition. We share commentary from a number of analysts breaking down the strength of the operators’ multi-orbit assets and how it will impact competition with Starlink and Kuiper.

Click HERE for further details from Via Satellite

 

 

Breaking Down the SES/Intelsat Deal: Analysts Review Multi-Orbit Assets and Competitive Effects
Posted:  3 May 2024

 

Though it long had been the subject of rumors, SES‘s agreement to finally acquire Intelsat still sent shockwaves through the satellite industry as the result will see the merge of two iconic global operators. Via Satellite spoke to a number of analysts to analyze the deal from the strength of the operators’ multi-orbit assets, to how it will impact competition with Starlink.

This roundtable includes Daniel Welch, co-founder and senior consultant of Valour Consultancy; Luigi Scatteia, partner, Space Practice Global Lead for PwC; Frost & Sullivan analysts Arjun Sreekumar, consulting director, Middle East & Europe, Growth Advisory, Aerospace & Defense and Pravin Pradeep, industry analyst, Aerospace & Defence; and Lluc Palerm, research director for Analysys Mason.

Click HERE for further details from Via Satellite

 

Full details of SES, Intelsat deal
Posted:  1 May 2024

May 1, 2024

SES’s senior management briefed analysts after their April 30th announcement that SES would buy Intelsat in a $3.1 billion (€2.8bn) cash purchase. The deal is transformational, not just for SES and Intelsat themselves but for the industry as a whole.

However, despite some very appealing statistics and forecasts, shareholders were extremely unhappy. Its share price crashed within moments of the announcement and during the day hit an ‘all time low’ of €4.13. It recovered a little as the afternoon went on and ‘bottom feeding’ buyers realised the stock was – perhaps – at bargain basement prices. Neverthelp

ess, in three days its shares lost 20 per cent of their value as investors realised the agreement with Intelsat meant a probable 3-5 year timetable before tangible benefits would be felt.

On the upside the purchase means that SES, once the deal wraps, will control more than 100 geostationary satellites and 26 medium Earth orbiting craft. Neither business owns a Low Earth orbiting (LEO) fleet but SES has a capacity agreement with Elon Musk’s Starlink, while Intelsat has a similar agreement with Eutelsat’s OneWeb.

.Click HERE for further details from Advanced Television

 

SES Explains the Strategy Behind the Long-Anticipated Acquisition of Intelsat
Posted:  1 May 2024

by Mark Holmes, Rachel Jewett | April 30, 2024

That SES will acquire Intelsat for $3.1 billion. It is a massive piece of industry consolidation, bringing together two of the largest satellite operators for a combined company with around $4 billion in revenue, more than 100 satellites in Geostationary Orbit (GEO), and 26 satellites in Medium-Earth Orbit (MEO).

SES CEO Adel Al-Saleh pitched the merger as bringing the companies together to create a player with a stronger multi-orbit position in the market to deliver better offerings in high-value markets like government and mobility

“This is a highly dynamic market. There’s new competition. This market is moving very fast, new LEO [Low-Earth Orbit] entrants are launching constellations. Having scale and a multi-orbit capability is critical to success. Being isolated or cornered into one part of the market without having the breadth and capability to compete is a difficult way to compete in this market,” Al-Saleh told analysts and investors on April 30.

“The stronger positioning in a multi-orbit capability gives us ways to deliver [solutions] to clients that we would struggle to deliver independently,” he added.

Click HERE for further details from Via Satellite

 

SES to acquire Intelsat; solid Q1
Posted:  1 May 2024

April 30, 2024
By Chris Forrester

SES vs Intelsat C-band hearng postponed Posted:  1 May 2024 April 22, 2024 By Chris Forrester The long-running legal battle between SES and Intelsat over more than $400 million (€375.2m) which SES is claiming out of the sum received by Intelsat from the FCC’s compensation scheme for the reuse of C-band, has been postponed. A hearing initially set for April 24th has now been rescheduled for July 17th. SES is arguing that Intelsat agreed to a 50/50 split of the FCC’s overall $9 billion C-band compensation. Intelsat has hold of the cash and insists that the agreement didn’t stand once the FCC agreed to a public – and not a private – auction of the frequencies. .Click HERE for further details from Advanced Television.

The deal is not expected to clear regulatory hurdles much before H2 2025, and could well face anti-trust challenges in the US.

“The transaction has been unanimously approved by the Board of Directors of both companies and Intelsat shareholders holding approximately 73 per cent of the common shares have entered into customary support agreements requiring them to vote in favour of the transaction,” added SES.

.Click HERE for further details from Advanced Television

 

SES to Acquire Intelsat in Compelling Transaction Focused on the Future
Posted:  30 April 2024

April 30, 2024

Value accretive transaction underpinned by €2.4 billion (NPV) of readily executable synergies.

Creating a stronger multi-orbit operator with ~60% of revenue in high growth segments.

Enhances competitive offerings to deliver customer value through segment-relevant solutions.

Expanded cash flows, profitable growth outlook, & strong balance sheet drive total shareholder return.

Luxembourg and McLean, VA, 30 April 2024 — SES S.A. (“SES”) and Intelsat S.A. (“Intelsat”) announce an agreement for SES to acquire Intelsat through the purchase of 100% of the equity of Intelsat Holdings S.a.r.l. for a cash consideration of $3.1 billion (€2.8 billion) and certain contingent value rights. The combination will create a stronger multi-orbit operator with greater coverage, improved resiliency, expanded suite of solutions, enhanced resources to profitably invest in innovation, and benefit from the collective talent, expertise, and track record of both companies.

Click HERE for further details from Intelsat

 

SES to acquire Intelsat for $3.1bn
Posted:  30 April 2024

by Jeff Fouost | April 30, 2024

WASHINGTON — SES is acquiring rival satellite operator Intelsat for $3.1 billion, a deal that would bring together two of the major GEO satellite operators in a market facing increased competition from LEO constellations.

The companies announced April 30 that they had agreed on the deal, subject to regulatory approvals. SES will pay $3.1 billion in cash along with certain contingent value rights for 100% of Intelsat. The transaction is not expected to close until the second half of 2025.

SES said it will fund the deal through existing cash on hand, which it estimates to be $2.6 billion at the end of March, along with debt. The combined company would have about $4.1 billion in annual revenues and estimated adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) of $1.9 billion this year. The combined company will remain headquartered in Luxembourg, where SES is based, but will maintain a “significant presence” at Intelsat’s home in the Washington, D.C., area.

Click HERE for further details from Spacenews.com

 

SES vs Intelsat C-band hearing postponed
Posted:  26 April 2024

April 22, 2024
By Chris Forrester

The long-running legal battle between SES and Intelsat over more than $400 million (€375.2m) which SES is claiming out of the sum received by Intelsat from the FCC’s compensation scheme for the reuse of C-band, has been postponed.

A hearing initially set for April 24th has now been rescheduled for July 17th.

SES is arguing that Intelsat agreed to a 50/50 split of the FCC’s overall $9 billion C-band compensation. Intelsat has hold of the cash and insists that the agreement didn’t stand once the FCC agreed to a public – and not a private – auction of the frequencies.

.Click HERE for further details from Advanced Television

 

US government could help fund Intelsat's MEO plans
Posted:  13 April 2024

by Jason Rabinow | April 12, 2024

TAMPA, Fla. — Intelsat is in talks with the U.S. government to help fund 17 medium Earth orbit (MEO) satellites to expand the operator’s multi-orbit broadband network.

CEO David Wajsgras said the company, which operates geostationary satellites but also provides low Earth orbit (LEO) services via leased capacity from OneWeb, is due to pick companies to build its own MEO network before the end of June.

“We’ve been looking at multiple manufacturing partners for the bus, the sensors and for some of the modules,” Wajsgras told SpaceNews in an interview, “and determining the exact construct of the team that would put those satellites on orbit in approximately three-and-a-half to four years from now.”

Click HERE for further details from Spacenews.com

 

Intelsat contemplates next step
Posted:  11 April 2024

April 10, 2024
By Chris Forrester

It was recently reported how Intelsat was facing up to its future and how it would compete with rival satellite operators.

More detail has now emerged. Intelsat has been through something of a nightmare this past few years, emerging – more or less – from Chapter 11 bankruptcy with much reduced interest obligations and the recipient of the FCC’s almost $5 billion in compensation for its C-band frequencies. One key indicator is that Intelsat’s current owners could move the company towards an IPO probably around 2027.

.Click HERE for further details from Advanced Television

 

Welcome New Member
Posted:26 March 2024

We are pleased to Welcome the following new member to the Intelsat Retirees and Alumni Association:

 
March 2024

Lare Atcha-Oubou

 

Intelsat outlines future; plans for MEO
Posted:  21 March 2024

March 20, 2024

David Wajsgras, CEO at Intelsat, used his Keynote at the Washington Satellite 2024 show to explain how the satellite giant was changing from its past role, albeit important global supplier of bandwidth, to what he saw as new opportunities. Included in his discussion was news that Intelsat was close to deciding on a Medium-Earth orbiting constellation (MEO).

Wajsgras, which had last year’s merger with SES happened would have been the CEO at the combined company, told delegates that Intelsat was changing to provide full-scale, end-to-end solutions for its clients and was looking forward to greater use of Medium Earth orbiting and in particular direct-to-user connectivity.

.Click HERE for further details from Advanced Television

 

Intelsat Advances Multi-Orbit Strategy with Expansion of Eutelsat Group LEO Agreement
Posted:  
20 March 2024

March 19, 2024

MCLEAN, Va. – Intelsat today announced a strategic advance in its service capabilities through an expanded partnership with Eutelsat Group related to that company’s OneWeb low-earth orbit (LEO) constellation. The deal is a significant development for multi-orbit satellite connectivity solutions and positions Intelsat at the forefront of the next wave in global connectivity.

The arrangement provides a commitment of $250 million for LEO service over the first six years, with an option for an additional $250 million. This agreement will increase and further integrate LEO capabilities into Intelsat’s solutions offerings across its current and future customer base.

Click HERE for further details from Intelsat

 

Top Operators Bring a Laser-Like Focus to New Markets
Posted:  
20 March 2024

by Maria Torrieri | March 19, 2024

SATELLITE 2024’s Opening General Session on Tuesday brought together satellite industry leaders in a lively — and slightly heated — discussion on global broadband connectivity, technology, and what’s next for legacy operators amid competition from Starlink.

Gwynne Shotwell, president and COO of SpaceX, touched on several developments — including updates with Starlink, the recent John Deere deal, and Starship’s test flight — in addition to announcing SpaceX’s next frontier: plug and play lasers.

Click HERE for further details from Via Satellite

 

10 Hottest Satellite Companies in 2024
Posted:  23 February 2024

by Rachel Jewett | February 22, 2024

Via Satellite’s 10 Hottest Companies rounds up 10 “must watch” companies in the satellite industry, from constellations, manufacturing, launch, and more. Via Satellite editors chose the companies on this list based on their expected activity for the year, and a mix of market share, transformational technology, ground-breaking deals, and overall industry excitement.

Now in its sixth year, it’s fascinating to see new companies make the list as the industry evolves. A number of these companies didn’t exist when the list started in 2019. The companies selected as the 2024 10 Hottest Companies in Satellite are listed here in alphabetical order:

Amazon / Project Kuiper For at least the next couple of years, Amazon will be playing catch up in the race to deploy its Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite broadband constellation. Unlike other competitors making the leap from on paper to on orbit, Amazon’s vast financial resources provided the company with more time and a longer runway for its massive 3,236-satellite LEO system to take off. At the start of the new year, that time is running short.

Click HERE for further details from Via Satellite

 

Welcome New Member
Posted:19 February 2024

We are pleased to Welcome the following new member to the Intelsat Retirees and Alumni Association:

 
February 2024

Kenneth Sierzega

 

Intelsat is Awarded Air Force Connectivity Contract
Posted:  16 February 2024

Deal Covers Experimental Defense Connectivity for Military Aircraft

MCLEAN, Va. – Intelsat, operator of one of the world’s largest integrated satellite and terrestrial networks, will develop and test multi-orbit satellite communications (SATCOM) systems on several different Air Force aircraft following the award of a new contract from the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory.

The deal is part of the Defense Experimentation Using Commercial Space Internet (DEUCSI) program to address the government’s need for resilient communications for aircraft, using multi-band, multi-orbit implementations that can seamlessly be switched between orbits at a moment’s notice. The contract is for one year and has a contract value of $9 million.

me, after using C-band proceeds to pay down its debt. Intelsat emerged from bankruptcy proceedings about 18 months ago, cutting its debt in the process from from approximately $16 billion to $7 billion.

Click HERE for further details from Intelsat

 

Enhancing FAST Channel Distribution with Satellite
Posted:  16 February 2024

15 February 2024
Mandy Cassells, Principal Product Manager, Intelsat Media

FAST channels (Free Ad-supported Television) are booming worldwide and are disrupting traditional video consumption. According to Kantar, FAST is the quickest-growing streaming option in the U.S. with 47% of households now utilizing FAST every week.

So, what’s driving FAST adoption? Cost and accessibility are key drivers. Viewers are being pushed towards free ad-supported options due to price hikes by many subscription streaming services. Additionally, the pace of new content creation has slowed.

Click HERE for further details from Intelsat

 

Intelsat invests in hiSky
Posted:  
10 February 2024

February 9, 2024
By Chris Forrester

hiSky, which provides advanced satellite communication solutions, has signed an investment and strategic collaboration agreement with Intelsat. The investment marks a transformative development in the delivery of reliable, high-throughput satellite connectivity.

Intelsat’s investment in hiSky underscores hiSky’s technological prowess and market potential and places Intelsat as shareholders in the Israel-based company, joining Singapore-based ST Engineering’s Corporate Venture Capital, UAE-based SDF (Strategic Development Fund) owned by EDGE Group PJSC, and other current hiSky shareholders. The size of the investment was not revealed.

.Click HERE for further details from Advanced Television

 

Intelsat SES gets expedited hearing on Intelsat claim
Posted:  6 February 2024

February 5, 2024
By Chris Forrester

Intelsat’s Bankruptcy Court has agreed to hold a hearing into the SES claim for a larger share of the FCC’s C-band compensation payment. Judge Phillips will hold the hearing at his Richmond, Virginia court on April 24th.

In essence, SES is asking for the hearing to resolve the dilemma of having ‘won’ an appeal against Judge Phillips’ earlier verdict to deny SES a greater share of the C-band payments.

Click HERE for further details from Advanced Television

 

Astroscale, Boeing, SES and Intelsat Take Stock of 2023
Posted:  27 January 2024

by Mark Holmes -- January 26, 2024

2023 was a very eventful year in the satellite industry, and a number of companies made significant announcements as the industry heads into this unprecedented multi-orbit era. 2024 promises to be as equally as significant as companies look to make good on bold, ambitious business plans with more competition than ever.

To kick off the new year, Via Satellite reached out to a number of the industry’s most well-known names to find out how they viewed the events of 2023. This roundtable features Nobu Okada, CEO of Astroscale; Michelle Parker, vice president of Boeing Space Mission Systems; Rui Pinto, CEO of SES,and David Wajsgras, CEO of Intelsat.

Click HERE for further details from Viasatellite

 

Space investment rebounded in 2023 with heavy sector M&A, report says
Posted:  
17 January 2024

by Michael Sheetz -  January 16, 2024

KEY POINTS

  • Investment in the space sector bounced back last year, with $12.5 billion raised in 2023, according to a report Tuesday by New York-based Space Capital.

  • That was well above last year’s $9.3 billion raised but still below the $15.3 billion brought in during the record-high space investment of 2021.

  • Space infrastructure companies have been resilient through the recent downturn, but Space Capital’s report also highlighted 2023 as “a year of consolidation,” with 39 M&A deals.

Investment in the space sector bounced back last year, rebounding closer to the record high of 2021, according to a report Tuesday by New York-based Space Capital.

“Investment in Infrastructure remained strong, accounting for 70% of total 2023 investment and notching its second highest annual record, spurred by countercyclical revenue from government customers,” Space Capital managing partner Chad Anderson wrote in the report.

The firm’s fourth-quarter report found that space infrastructure companies brought in $2.6 billion of private investment during the period. That brought the sector to $12.5 billion in total investment for 2023, well above last year’s $9.3 billion raised but still below the $15.3 billion brought in during 2021.

Click HERE for further details from CNBC

 

Intelsat Expects $2.1B in Revenue This Year, Execs Outline Pivot to Solutions Provider
Posted:  
3 December 2023

by Rachel Jewett | December 1, 2023

McLean, VIRGINIA — Intelsat expects to earn $2.1 billion in revenue this year, CEO David Wajsgras said during an investor day event on Nov. 30, giving a rare look at the company’s finances and outlining its “strategic reset” from a bandwidth supplier to an end-to-end solutions provider.

Executives said Thursday that the company is in the best financial position in a long time, after using C-band proceeds to pay down its debt. Intelsat emerged from bankruptcy proceedings about 18 months ago, cutting its debt in the process from approximately $16 billion to $7 billion.

Click HERE for further details from Via Satellite

 

Intelsat wins IFC on Aerolineas Argentinas
Posted:  23 November 2023

by Mark Holmes --November 21, 2023

Intelsat has made a breakthrough in the in-flight connectivity (IFC) market in Latin America. It announced Nov. 20 that Aerolíneas Argentinas has tapped Intelsat to provide multi-orbit in-flight connectivity services on 18 Airbus A330 and Boeing 737 MAX aircraft.

The airline will become the first in Latin America to offer service using Intelsat’s new electronically steered antenna (ESA). It is less than 7 centimeters tall and interoperates on both Intelsat’s family of Geostationary (GEO) satellites and its partner’s constellation of Low-Earth Orbit (LEO)

Click HERE for further details from Advanced Television

 

Intelsat Responds to SES's "bombastic brief"
Posted:
16 November 2023

November 15, 2023   |    By Chris Forrester

SES might have received the FCC’s $3 billion (€2.76bn) in compensation for handing over its C-band satellite frequencies in October 2023. But the long-running arguments over how the FCC’s overall compensation was allocated continue to resonate between SES and Intelsat.

Lawyers for SES filed their argument to Intelsat’s bankruptcy court on September 28th seeking about $421 million in extra payment from Intelsat and as part of a 50/50 agreement between SES and Intelsat. Their argument has the support of a successful appeal in front of the District Court.

Click HERE for further details from Advanced Television

 

UK pushing to combine OneWeb Gen 2 and European sovereign constellation efforts
Posted:  
4 November 2023

by Jason Rabinow | November 3, 2023

TAMPA, Fla. — The U.K.’s space minister hopes to convince Europe to use OneWeb’s proposed second-generation satellites instead of pursuing a standalone constellation now that the British operator has merged with Eutelsat of France.

Europe’s plans for a global sovereign connectivity network by 2027 could take the form of hosted payloads on the upgraded low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites Eutelsat aims to deploy around the same time, George Freeman told SpaceNews in an interview.

Combining efforts would save costs during tough economic conditions while also reducing the mass of objects in space.

Click HERE for further details from Spacenewsn

 

SES and Boeing in a mess over O3b
Posted:  
2 November 2023

November 1, 2023

The latest batch of O3b satellites, called mPOWER, are all malfunctioning. The problem is in the power supply of the four in orbit and two others due to be launched on November 12th. Manufacturers Boeing is having to supply two additional satellites to compensate SES for the problems.

SES temporary CEO, Ruy Pinto, admitted to analysts that the power problems are worse than originally thought and that the fleet’s expected orbital lifetime will be significantly shorter than planned. SES said on October 31st that the existing orbiting satellites had suffered increasing “non-recoverable” events.

Click HERE for further details from Advanced Television

 

SpaceX launches Intelsat's IS-40e high throughput satellite
Posted: 1 November 2
023

by Jason Rabinow-- 31 October,  2023

TAMPA, Fla. — Electrical issues disclosed a few months ago on the first four O3b mPower satellites in medium Earth orbit will significantly reduce their operational life and broadband capacity, their operator SES announced Oct. 31.

SES interim CEO Ruy Pinto said getting the performance originally expected from the next-generation MEO constellation will require Boeing to build two more O3b mPower satellites than initially planned, alongside upgrades on five others already in the works.

Two upcoming O3b mPower satellites set to launch in a few weeks will not have these upgrades to enable SES to start initial services no earlier than April.

Click  HERE for further details from SPACENEWS

 

SES and Boeing to Share Risk and CapEx on 2 Additional mPOWER Satellites
Posted:  1 November 2023

by Rachel Jewett | 31 October, 2023

SES is pushing back the start of commercial service for its O3b mPOWER constellation to early in the second quarter of 2024, as it deals with power module issues on the satellites. To deal with the impact to the constellation, SES “reshaped” its contract with manufacturer Boeing to upgrade five of the remaining satellites and add two new satellites to the constellation.

CEO Ruy Pinto gave an update on the next-generation Medium-Earth Orbit (MEO) program on Tuesday during SES’s third quarter 2023 call with investors. In August, SES reported “trip offs” on some of the power modules on board the four satellites on orbit.

Click HERE for further details from Via Satellite

 

Next-Generation Cybersecurity Defenses Coalesce for Space Systems
Posted:  24 October 2023

by Thom Fain | 23 October, 2023

Experts are optimistic about the future of cybersecurity as it relates to space, despite growing concern over the modern threat environment.

It’s no secret that advancements in AI are growing in parallel with the ambitions of foreign adversaries. Although not limited to state actors, the most obvious threats to Western cyber infrastructure are China and Russia – countries with antagonistic tendencies who happen to be launching inspector satellites into space.

Any number of Cold War analogies can be made in 2023, a year we saw the Pentagon ask for $3 billion for AI/ML capabilities while Elon Musk’s Starlink has been integral in the war between Ukraine and Russia. Regardless of the war’s eventual outcome, cyber confrontation is likely to continue at scale. However, experts are optimistic about the future of cybersecurity as it relates to space, in spite of the growing concern over the modern threat environment.

10 takeClick HERE for further details from Via Satellite

 

SES Wins Space Force Contract, Launches New Media
Posted:  
21 October 2023

by Mark Holmes -- October 20, 2023

SES Space & Defense was awarded a a five-year, Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) U.S. Space Force contract for proliferated Low Earth Orbit (pLEO) satellite-based services (SBS) through the Defense Information Systems Agency’s (DISA) Defense Information Technology Contracting Organization (DITCO). SES announced the deal, Oct. 20.

“The pLEO IDIQ is the first multiple award contract to deliver pLEO COMSATCOM services to the government and military. The contract structure is part of the U.S. Space Force’s new approach to acquiring SATCOM. These awards are foundational for COMSATCOM integration and proliferation into new waveforms and orbits enabling connectivity and communication at the tactical edge,” David Fields, SES Space & Defense President and CEO, said in a statement.

.Click HERE for further details from Advanced Television

 

SES Appoints Adel Saleh as CEO
Posted:  14 October 2023

Luxembourg, 13 October 2023 – SES, a leading provider of global content connectivity solutions, today announced that Adel Al-Saleh has been hired as the company’s Chief Executive Officer, effective February 2024.

Since January 2018, Al-Saleh has been CEO at T-Systems International GmbH, the integrated IT services provider and subsidiary of telecommunications company Deutsche Telekom AG (DT), and he has served as a member of the Board of Management at DT throughout this period. In his time at T-Systems, Al-Saleh led the transition from a classic information technology and outsourcing business to an integrated IT services and digital solutions provider while driving growth initiatives to optimise operations, improve efficiency, increase customer satisfaction, expand employee engagement and maximise profitability.

Click HERE for further details from SES

 

Inflation is already running past next year's Social Security COLA
Posted:  13 October 2023

by Brett Arends | 12 October, 2023

The latest inflation figures from the United States government are worrying news for senior citizens -- and I'm not even talking about 80-year-old Joe Biden, although they threaten his re-election campaign as well.

Social Security beneficiaries are going to have to make do with a mere 3.2% cost-of-living-adjustment to their monthly checks starting January, the program's administrators said Thursday.

Read: Social Security's COLA for 2024 is 3.2%, vs. 2023's historic 8.7% inflation-fueled adjustment

Click HERE for further details from Morningstar

 

SpaceX Aims to Offer Starlink Direct-to-Cell Text Service in 2024 IoT By 2025
Posted:  12 October 2023

by Rachel Jewett | 11 October, 2023

SpaceX is targeting direct-to-cell service that enables text messaging with the Starlink constellation in 2024, and voice and data and IoT service by 2025. SpaceX updated Starlink’s website with a new page focusing on direct-to-cell service.

SpaceX Chief Engineer Elon Musk previously gave the target that Starlink would enter beta service for direct-to-cell with T-Mobile in late 2023. Starlink announced the deal with T-Mobile last year, pitching the service as a way to close gaps in cellular networks in rural and remote areas and allow T-Mobile customers to send messages via Starlink satellites.

Starlink has signed a number of other global cellular providers as partners — Rogers in Canada, Optus in Australia, One NZ in New Zealand, KDDI in Japan, and Salt in Switzerland.

Click HERE for further details from Via Satellite

 

Matt Frumin: A Unique Moment for an Extraordinary Opportunity
Posted:
11 October 2023

 

By Matt Frumin | October 10, 2023

 

The former Intelsat headquarters, located at 4000 Connecticut Ave. NW, just one block from a Metrorail stop, offers a rare opportunity for the District to acquire a massive property that can serve all Washingtonians.

The 660,000-square-foot building, which most recently housed the international independent Whittle School, is currently on the market. It is sited on a lot with up to 45,000 square feet of developable land, not including the lovely park along Connecticut Avenue that should be preserved.

Significant portions of the building are turn-key and ready for myriad uses, especially educational programs for all ages. The site is one of the few of its size ripe for development in our city, and it would be a travesty not to seize upon this unique opportunity.

Click HERE for further details from The DC Line

 

 

 

Eutelsat, OneWeb complete merger
Posted:  28 September 2023

September 28, 2023   |    By Chris Forrester

Eutelsat Communications has announced the completion of its all-share combination with OneWeb, the global low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite communications network, following the approval at the Ordinary and Extraordinary General Meeting of Eutelsat shareholders in Paris. The combination forms Eutelsat Group.

The company remains headquartered in Paris. OneWeb will be a subsidiary operating commercially as Eutelsat OneWeb with its centre of operations remaining in London. The Company remains listed on the Euronext Paris Stock Exchange and has applied for standard listing on the London Stock Exchange.

Click HERE for further details from Advanced Television

 

 

10 Takeaways from World Satellite Business Week 2023
Posted:  28 September 2023

by Rachel Jewett | 26 September,  2023

The Westin Vendôme in Paris was packed in mid-September with a completely sold out World Satellite Business Week (WSBW). As the industry is expanding, the show is growing and buzzing with energy. While there wasn’t any show-stopping news during the week, WSBW was a good opportunity to gauge the pulse on the industry more than halfway through the year. Via Satellite shares its 10 takeaways from the conference.

Starlink Dominates the Connectivity Conversation All of the satellite operators, whether traditional Geostationary Orbit (GEO) or new constellations are trying to position their businesses to stack up against Starlink, which just passed 2 million subscribers. Discussion of SpaceX’s broadband constellation dominated panels on everything from connectivity, regional operators, and ground technology. Everyone is pursuing a differentiation strategy, whether it’s a focus on a particular market, technology, or specific business model. While a few years ago major operators were taking shots at the feasibility of such a constellation, now they are openly admiring how Starlink disrupted the market and insisting there’s plenty of demand to go around.

Click HERE for further details from Via Satellite

 

The Future of Smart Phones with Satellite Direct-to-Handset
Posted:  27 September 2023

by Ivan Suarez | 26 September,  2023

There is a sense of safety that comes with being connected, a contemporary feeling that surpasses cultures and identities. Losing access to data, voice or messaging services deters users around the world from exploring unique places and fulfilling their dreams as that important sense of security vanishes. Satellite connectivity has for decades allowed privileged users to remain connected – and safer – thanks to orbital systems that made their world smaller with specialist devices operating under mobile satellite services (MSS).

In 2022, the telecommunications sector made history by bridging the previously thought impossible link between cell phones and satellite networks, what we refer to as “direct-to-handset” (DTH) connectivity. It took the alignment of a mature non-Geostationary (NGSO) system, advanced nanotechnology, as well as active cooperation between a smartphone manufacturer and a satellite operator to make DTH a reality, because the network and commercial hurdles were too complex to solve without economic incentives.

Click HERE for further details from Via Satellite

 

How Two SATCOM companies are responding to Starlink's dominance
Posted:  15 September 2023

By Courtney Albon | September 15, 2023

LONDON — With SpaceX’s Starlink constellation dominating the space-based communications market, longstanding satellite operators are positioning themselves to compete with the billionaire-owned company — particularly when it comes to military and government services.

SpaceX, with its 5,000-satellite Starlink fleet, has a hedge on the satellite communication market, but executives at U.K.-based OneWeb and Luxembourg-based Intelsat told C4ISRNET this week during the DSEI conference here they see opportunities to join the behemoth in meeting increasing connectivity demands.

Click HERE for further details from C4ISRNET

 

SES vs Intelsat C-band payments: Court dates set
Posted:  15 September 2023

September 14, 2023

The long-running legal action from SES arguing for a greater share of the FCC’s C-band compensation payments, and which demands Intelsat honour its 50/50 agreement with SES, has now set some key dates for the action.

SES has already received a positive Appeal verdict from the US District Court and now the lower Bankruptcy Court must accommodate that verdict.

Click HERE for further details from Advanced Television

 

LEO Operators Pitch the Orbit's Value for IFC at Connected Aviation Event
Posted:  14 September 2023

by David Hodes | September 13, 2023

DENVER, COLORADO — Satellite operators building constellations in Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) are targeting in-flight connectivity as a critical market for their businesses. Executives made bold projections for how airlines will adopt LEO at the Connected Aviation Intelligence Summit, in Denver, Colorado, on Sept. 7.

Jason Sperry, head of Business Aviation for OneWeb, projects that the aviation and airline community will “absolutely” achieve a majority of traffic over LEO by 2030, estimating 50% or more.

Ronald van der Breggen, chief commercial officer at Rivada Space Networks, agreed on LEO’s significance, but put the traffic figure at more than 70%. “It’s all about the user,” he said. “It’s not about what the airlines want, or the capabilities of the satellite companies. It’s about the end user.”

Click HERE for further details from Avionics International

 

SES Teams Up with Starlink to Package Connectivity for the Cruise Segment
Posted:  14 September 2023

by Mark Holmes, Rachel Jewett | September 13, 2023

SES is bringing a new multi-orbit hybrid connectivity solution to the cruise industry, integrating SpaceX‘s Starlink connectivity into its offering for cruise companies. The joint offering announced Wednesday is SES Cruise mPOWERED + Starlink. The solution will be available in the fourth quarter of this year.

The product will be integrated, sold, and delivered by SES. The operator pitched it as combining the best of Medium-Earth Orbit (MEO) and Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) for high-speed and secure cruise connectivity. The solution is available in either a Premium tier at 3Gbps per ship, or the Pro tier at 1.5 Gbp per ship.

Click HERE for further details from Via Satellite

 

Intelsat, Aalyria Sign Deal to Advance Multi-Orbit Connectivity
Posted:
13 September 2023

September 12, 2023

MCLEAN, Va. – Intelsat, operator of one of the world’s largest integrated satellite and terrestrial networks and leading provider of inflight connectivity (IFC), today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Livermore, California-based Aalyria, the advanced software-defined and optical networking communications pioneer, that includes financial commitments to advance the development of a new optical technology that will transfer record amounts of data between ground and space.

“Aalyria’s groundbreaking technologies give us the opportunity to pursue highly-secure connectivity at unprecedented speeds, opening up new frontiers in satellite communications,” said Bruno Fromont, Intelsat Chief Technology Officer. “The Intelsat-Aalyria collaboration will enable enhanced mobile broadband connections and represents another step forward towards our Next Generation Unifying Network vision enabled by software-defined networking, 5G and multi-orbit operations.”

.Click HERE for further details from Intelsat

 

Intelsat wins Air Canada IFC
Posted:  8 September 2023

Long-term relationship between satellite connectivity provider and Canada’s leading airline expands to include 100 additional aircraft equipped for Wi-Fi with craft using new antenna

by Joe O'Halloran | Published 7 September 2023 16:15

The reach of satellite-based data services is rapidly expanding to more places on Earth and in the sky as airline passengers come to expect in-flight connectivity as a standard.

Addressing the needs of its passengers, Air Canada has turned to Intelsat – one of the world’s leading providers of in-flight connectivity (IFC) – to provide connectivity systems for nearly 100 additional aircraft across its fleet, including Intelsat’s multi-orbit electronically steered array (ESA) antenna.

Air Canada is Canada’s largest airline, the country’s flag carrier and a founding member of Star Alliance, claimed to be the world’s most comprehensive air transportation network. Air Canada provides scheduled service directly to more than 180 airports in Canada, the US and internationally on six continents.

To further enhance customer experience through the use of technology, it has partnered with Bell to offer free messaging for all members of its Aeroplan customer loyalty scheme worldwide on all Wi-Fi equipped aircraft across Air Canada’s fleet.

Click HERE for further details from Computer Weekly

 

Intelsat and SES Complete C-Band Spectrum Clearing
Posted:
15 August 2023

by Rachel Jewett | August 14,  2023

Both Intelsat and SES report they have completed activities to clear C-band spectrum, paving the way for the two companies to receive billions of dollars in payments.

This closes out the operators’ work to clear a portion of the C-band after the FCC reallocated the C-band for wireless use in 2020. Overall, satellite operators received relocation costs and a total of $9.7 billion to clear the spectrum, while the auction grossed $80.9 billion, setting a record as the highest-grossing FCC auction.

SES confirmed on Aug. 10 that the FCC certified its C-band clearing including launching five new satellites and repacking all of its C-band downlink services in the continental United States in a certain portion of the band.

SES is now eligible to receive its second chunk of accelerated relocation payment, totaling $2.99 billion, before tax estimated at about 18% to 19%. SES expects this payment to be made in the fourth quarter of this year.

Click HERE for further details from Via Satellite

 

Intelsat Galaxy 37/Horizons-4 Satellite Successfully Launched
Posted:  4 August 2023

MCLEAN, Va. – Intelsat, operator of one of the world’s largest integrated satellite and terrestrial network and leading provider of inflight connectivity, announced the successful launch of Galaxy 37/Horizons-4 (G-37/H-4), setting a new record for the commercial satellite industry by sending eight geostationary satellites into space within 10 months.

“This launch completes our comprehensive Galaxy fleet refresh plan started about 10 months ago,” said Dave Wajsgras, CEO at Intelsat. “This milestone is now a part of the 40-year Galaxy legacy – satellites our North American customers have relied on for decades. It also marks the 20-year anniversary of our JSAT partnership. This joint venture has allowed both companies to serve more customers in more places throughout the world.”

Click HERE for further details from Intelsat

 

District Court "Sides With SES Over Intelsat in C-Band Claims
Posted:  27 June 2023

By Rachel Jewett   |    June 26, 2023

A judge has sided with SES in an ongoing dispute over $421 million of Intelsat’s C-band proceeds, ruling that the previous bankruptcy court erred in siding with Intelsat. The June 22 opinion was released just after Intelsat pulled out of potential merger talks with SES.

Senior U.S. District Judge Robert Payne’s opinion says the bankruptcy court’s decision will be reversed, and sent the case back to bankruptcy court. The case was in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Richmond division, case No. 3:22-cv-668. “The judgment of the bankruptcy court will be reversed and this matter will be remanded to the bankruptcy court for further proceedings consistent with this opinion,” Judge Payne said in the opinion, accessed via Pacer.

Click HERE for further details from Via Satellite

 

Intelsat and SES $10bn merger talks scrapped
Posted:
23 June 2023

by Jack Haddon June 22,  2023 03:41 PM

Satellite companies proposed deal will not be taking place after three months of official talks Consolidation in the satellite industry is expected to significantly increase in the coming years, as legacy operators struggle to meet the scale of the disruptive forces of SpaceX and Amazon.

One such merger that was touted between Luxembourg-based SES and US firm Intelsat, however, will not be taking place.

Rumours had been swirling that the two companies would be merging for a while, with the two companies confirming talks had begun in March.

Sources from SES told Bloomberg on Wednesday that Intelsat had walked away from the deal and a short statement was posted to SES’s website today.

“SES announces today that discussions regarding a possible combination with Intelsat have ceased. On 29 March 2023, SES had confirmed that the company engaged in discussions with Intelsat and that there could be no certainty that a transaction would materialise,” it read.

.Click HERE for further details from Capacity Media

 

SES CEO Steve Collar announces sudden resignation
Posted:
13 June 2023

by Jason Rabinow--June 12,  2023

TAMPA, Fla. — Steve Collar announced plans June 12 to step down as SES CEO at the end of the month after more than 20 years with the multi-orbit satellite operator.

SES chief technology officer Ruy Pinto, a former chief operating officer at Inmarsat who joined SES in 2017, is taking the company’s reins until it can find a permanent successor.

Luxembourg-based SES said in a news release that Collar is leaving to pursue other professional and personal endeavors — without elaborating.

Despite his sudden departure, SES vice president of external communications Suzanne Ong said Collar plans to remain fully available to the company beyond June 30 to support a smooth transition.

Click HERE for further details from SPACENEWS

 

Intelsat: 'Insider trading' appeal lodged
Posted:  
31 May 2023

May 30,  2023

The Intelsat Class Action into alleged insider trading, which had earlier been dismissed by a District Court judge on April 26th, has seen an appeal lodged.

The case revolves around alleged insider trading over the sale of Intelsat shares by certain shareholders including the then chairman Dave McGlade. The sale allegedly took place ahead of the FCC deciding to itself auction off C-band frequencies. Prior to the FCC decision it had been expected that members of the Alliance (notably Intelsat and SES) would themselves sell off their frequencies.

The new appeal argues against the dismissal of the case made by Judge Jeffrey White. The appeal is lodged with the US Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit. The confidential witnesses in the case, who gave evidence in favour of the Plaintiffs, did not add enough relevant detail to support the Class Action, said Judge White in his ruling.

Click HERE for further details from Advanced Television

 

Welcome New Member
Posted:22 May 2023

We are pleased to Welcome the following new member to the Intelsat Retirees and Alumni Association:

 March 2023

Andrew Lee

 

Connecting the Dots | SES-Intelsat merger would face uphill regulatory struggle
Posted:
27 April 2023

by Jason Rabinow--April 25,  2023

Plenty of operational synergies await SES and Intelsat if the world’s largest fixed satellite service (FSS) providers can craft a merger able to clear regulatory scrutiny.

Following years of industry speculation, SES confirmed it was in early talks about combining with Intelsat on March 29, shortly after Bloomberg reported a deal could be just weeks away.

A merger would bring together more than 70 satellites SES has across geostationary and medium Earth orbit with Intelsat’s more than 50 geostationary satellites, forming a company exceeding $4 billion in annual revenues.

Pooling resources would help them rationalize their fleets as capacity prices come under pressure from a flood of satellites coming to orbit.

High throughput satellites supplied around 2.7 terabits per second (Tbps) of capacity across geostationary and non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) in 2021, according to Northern Sky Research. This jumped to nearly 21 Tbps in 2022 and is on track to more than double to around 43 terabits next year.

Click HERE for further details from SPACENEWS

 

Intelsat 'Class Action' judge ready to decide
Posted:  21 April 2023

April 20, 2023  | Advanced Television

Intelsat’s long-running Class Action lawsuit against key shareholders alleging insider trading will be decided by a judge on the basis of documents and motions already filed to the court.

The judge in the case has cancelled a planned full court hearing (which called for a jury trial) and dismissed some of the motions in the case. The hearing was due on April 28th.

.Click HERE for further details from Advanced Television

 

Intelsat orders another space tug rescue
Posted:  14 April 2023

April 14, 2023   |    By Chris Forrester

Intelsat has ordered a Mission Extension Pod (MEP) from Northrop Grumman’s SpaceLogistics, which will add life to an Intelsat satellite and provide uninterrupted services to many customers.

The MEP jet pack often referred to as a ‘space tug’ will be installed by SpaceLogistics’ mission robotic vehicle (MRV) on an Intelsat satellite operating in geosynchronous orbit, ensuring continuity of satellite service for at least six years beginning in 2026. Intelsat has not identified which satellite will be serviced. Both MEP and MRV have completed critical design reviews, are in assembly and testing, and are proceeding toward launch.

Click HERE for further details from Advanced Television

 

SpaceX launches Intelsat's IS-40e high throughput satellite
Posted:
8 April 2023

by Jason Rabinow-- 7 April,  2023

TAMPA, Fla. — SpaceX successfully launched Intelsat’s IS-40e communications satellite April 7, which will help the operator meet growing demand for connectivity on planes while also carrying its first hosted payload for NASA.

The satellite deployed solar arrays and is receiving and sending signals in geosynchronous transfer orbit following its 12:30 a.m. Eastern launch, its manufacturer Maxar Technologies confirmed.

The first stage booster of the Falcon 9 rocket that lifted IS-40e off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, also successfully landed on a drone ship for later reuse.

It will take three weeks for the satellite to use onboard chemical propulsion to reach its final orbital slot at 91 degrees West over North America, Jean-Luc Froeliger, Intelsat’s senior vice president of space systems, told SpaceNews in an interview.

Click HERE for further details from SPACENEWS

 

Intelsat [Class] Action: "Core deficiencies remain"
Posted:  4 April 2023

April 3, 2023  | Advanced Television

The long-running Class Action against alleged Intelsat inside traders has seen a rebuttal submitted by the Defendants. They argue that the Plaintiffs have failed to make their case and has not made any plausible facts demonstrating that Intelsat obtained any material non-public information prior to the Defendants [sale of shares]. The rebuttal calls for the court to dismiss the Action.

The events that lead up to the claim state that on the morning of November 5th 2019, a meeting took place with Intelsat’s CEO Steve Spengler at the FCC to discuss Intelsat’s (and SES) C-band proposal for a private auction of some of the satellite company’s C-band assets over the US.

Click HERE for further details from Advanced Television

 

Market reacts to SES, Intelsat rumours
Posted:
1 April 2023

by Chris Forrester - March 31, 2023

The potential link between the world’s two largest satellite operators, SES and Intelsat, is intriguing the market. The news – at this stage more rumour than hard fact – follows on from a slew of similar mergers/acquisitions in the sector including Viasat’s upcoming purchase of Inmarsat, Eutelsat’s merger with OneWeb, and plenty of smaller satellite-based deals over the recent years.

The hard facts are that any agreement between the two rivals would position them in a better place to compete with new entrants such as Starlink and the proposed Jeff Bezos-backed Project Kuiper.

Bloomberg, in its report on the rumours, states that SES and Intelsat are in “advanced negotiations” and aiming to reach an agreement in the next few weeks. A satisfactory conclusion could value the combined business at more than $10 billion including some debt.

Click HERE for further details from Advanced Television 

 

Intelsat and SES are on a $10B collision course
Posted: 30
March 2023


IAIN MORRIS, March 30, 2023

 

An extra-terrestrial landing on planet Earth and hearing all the Musk and Bezos babble about satellites could be forgiven for thinking they were a new discovery for Earthlings. Yet Intelsat and SES have a combined age of 96 and had equipment floating around in space long before most people had phones in their pockets. Under attack from a swarm of new satellites, including the constellations of the Tesla and Amazon billionaires, these antiquities of the industry are now joining forces in a deal valued at US$10 billion, according to a Bloomberg story.

 

Click HERE for further details from LightReading

 

Intelsat buys capacity on Hispasat's Anmazonas Nexus satellite
Posted: 18
March 2023

by Jason Rabinow-- March 17,  2023

TAMPA, Fla. — Intelsat has acquired a “significant amount” of capacity from the recently launched Amazonas Nexus satellite to meet demand for connectivity over the Americas, an executive for the company told SpaceNews.

Gerry Collins, Intelsat’s director of product management and networks, said the company is leasing the satellite’s high-throughput Ku-band capacity from Spanish operator Hispasat for customers across the United States, Brazil, and North Atlantic Ocean.

“We don’t discuss specific terms of our contracts, but we are calling the satellite Intelsat 46 (IS-46), which means we are making a long-term commitment [for] our customers,” he said.

.Click HERE for further details from SPACENEWS

 

SES vs Intelsat: Appeal hearing March 20
Posted:  
17 March 2023

by Chris Forrester -- March 16,  2023

The extremely long-running C-band legal action between the world’s two largest satellite operators, SES and Intelsat, is due in court next Monday, March 20th.

SES is arguing that it is entitled to a 50 per cent share of the FCC’s compensation payments for the pair’s certain satellite C-band frequencies which the FCC subsequently auctioned off to telcos for 5G usage. Specifically, SES is arguing for a greater slice of the FCC’s Accelerated Relocation Payment.

Click HERE for further details from Advanced Television

 

Intelsat to Operate Air Pollution Monitoring Space Instrument
Posted:
15 March 2023

NASA and Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory are innovating to improve air quality in North America

 

MCLEAN, Va --(BUSINESSWIRE) -- Intelsat, operator of one of the world’s largest integrated satellite and terrestrial networks and leading provider of inflight connectivity (IFC), completed testing of the operational and data collection system for the first space-based instrument to monitor major air pollutants across the North American continent every daylight hour at high resolution. The new UV-visible spectrometer, operated by Intelsat for NASA and the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, will be hosted on the Intelsat 40e (IS-40e) satellite set for launch next month..

 

Known as TEMPO (Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring of Pollution), the mission of the instrument is to create a revolutionary new dataset of atmospheric chemistry measurements from space. TEMPO data will play an important role in scientific studies of phenomena such as rush-hour pollution and the movement of emissions from forest fires and volcanoes. Scientists could eventually apply TEMPO observations to air quality alerts for people in pollution hot spots and those living with health issues.

 

Click HERE for further details from businesswire.

 

Eutelsat and Intelsat Sign Multi-Orbit Contract Enhancing Connectivity with OneWeb Services
Posted:
10 March 2023

 

9 March 2023

Eutelsat Communications (Euronext: ETL) has signed a multi-orbit agreement with Intelsat to enhance connectivity solutions over Europe, the Middle East, and the Pacific, including OneWeb services.

Under this new seven-year multi-million-euro capacity agreement with a progressive roll-out of assets over 2023, leveraging Eutelsat’s High-throughput satellites (HTS) in the Ku-band including the recently launched EUTELSAT 10B satellite and OneWeb’s constellation, Intelsat will be able to offer connectivity solutions for air, land and sea.

This deal cements a proposed deal previously announced on the EUTELSAT 10B satellite in October 2019 between Eutelsat and Gogo Commercial Aviation, acquired by Intelsat in 2020. The new capacity agreement adds OneWeb’s LEO (low-Earth orbit) solution to a larger portion of Eutelsat’s HTS GEO (geostationary orbit) assets (EUTELSAT 172B, the coming EUTELSAT 10B, and the future Flexsat), creating a unique hybrid offer that provides Intelsat with enhanced connectivity capacities.

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Click HERE for further details from TalkSatellite.

 

Class Action against Intelsat insiders
Posted:
7 March 2023

 

By Chris Forrester - 6 March 2023

 

“Any reasonable person – and juror – would believe that there was insider trading” states a motion from lawyers for the Class Action against some Intelsat shareholders and the company chairman, Dave McGlade, provided their detailed claim for the Northern District of California Court. Their action is due to be heard on April 28th.

The Action argues that the defendants in the case sold shares worth $246 million and thus avoid $185 million in losses but “innocent investors were left [with nothing]”. The Action states each of the named defendants “owed a fiduciary duty to Intelsat shareholders.”

Click HERE for further details from Advanced TV.

 

 

 

Intelsat to keep headcount on par with growth
Posted:  1 March 2023

by Simnikiwe Mzekandaba - Johannesburg, 13 Feb 2023

Multinational satellite services provider Intelsat is bullish about its future growth prospects and the staff complement needed to support this growth.

This is despite macro-economic conditions that have forced a number of global tech companies to scale down their employee headcount in recent weeks.

In an interview with ITWeb, Rhys Morgan, regional vice-president, EMEA media and networks sales at Intelsat, says the company is pretty lean in terms of personnel.

According to Morgan, Intelsat recently increased its number of employees, following the acquisition of a commercial aviation business that brought a “good number” of people into the fold.

“We’ve invested in terms of more people, and supporting key areas,” he states. “We’re still a small company in terms of overall headcount. Our view of business is that we see growth and where see growth, we need people to support that growth.”

Click HERE for further details from IT Web

 

Intelsat Completes Multi-Orbit In-flight Wi-Fi Tests
Posted:
1 March 2023


February 28, 2023

The electronically steered array (ESA) antenna is the only commercially available product in the aviation industry capable of operations with LEO and GEO satellites

MCLEAN, Va. – Intelsat, operator of one of the world’s largest integrated satellite and terrestrial networks and leading provider of inflight connectivity (IFC), today announced the successful completion of inflight testing of its new electronically steered array (ESA) antenna. This antenna enables global streaming-fast Wi-Fi service and is available to airlines around the world.

Intelsat’s ESA is the only commercially available antenna in the aviation industry that can operate between low Earth orbit satellites and geostationary satellites. Announced in June 2022, the new antenna has been accumulating flight hours with Ball, Stellar Blu Solutions, Intelsat and OneWeb engineers validating antenna and network performance.

Click HERE for further details from Intelsat..

 

 

Welcome New Member
Posted:23 February 2023

We are pleased to Welcome the following new member to the Intelsat Retirees and Alumni Association:

 February 2023

Wolfgang Wagner

 

SES, Intelsat, Babcock win UK Skynet contract
Posted:  
17 February 2023

by Chris Forrester -- February 16,  2023

A consortium of businesses have secured the UK’s satellite Skynet military satellite communications system. SES and Intelsat have linked with Babcock Integrated Technology to win the management transition contract which covers the next 6 years of usage.

The contract is valued at £400 million (€450.4m) and will lead to around 400+ new jobs in the UK.

Click HERE for further details from Advanced Television

 

SES, Intelsat expenses action suspended
Posted:
7 February 2023

 

By Chris Forrester - 6 February 2023

 

SES has had a legal action running against Intelsat which asks for Intelsat to pay what SES alleged was Intelsat's 50 per cent of the costs of running the C-Band Alliance. The action is paused while the larger legal action against Intelsat and where SES is suing for a 50/50 division of the FCC's Accelerated Relocation Payments. That action will be head in the next few weeks.

 

The C-band Alliance was formed to plan an auction of SES and Intelsat's C-band frequencies. However, the FCC came in with its own auction of the spectrum.

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Click HERE for further details from Advanced TV.

 

SES vs Intelsat back in court
Posted:  
1 February 2023

by Chris Forrester -- January 31, 2023

The long-running legal action between SES and Intelsat is back in court on January 31st.  The hearing is focused on the SES claim that Intelsat pay what SES says is its share of the costs associated with the C- band Alliance (CBA).

The CBA failed in its plan to create a private auction of C-band satellite frequencies for associated use for terrestrial 5G use.  Instead the FCC handled the auction of the satellite frequencies.

Click HERE for further details from Advanced Television

 

Intelsat Class Action gathers pace
Posted:  
27 January 2023

by Chris Forrester -- January 26, 2023

The long-running Class Action inside trading allegations brought by some investors in Intelsat is coming to a head.  The action centres on allegations that Dave McGlade, then chairman of Intelsat, in 20189, together with some major Intelsat stock holders, sold significant portions of their holdings following a specifric meeting between Intelsat and key officials the FCC where news emerged that the Intelsat and SES C-band prviate auction scheme would not be permitted by the FCC.

Back on Nov ember 4th 2022, the judge hearing the Class Action dismissed the Plaintiffs' (Wlleye Opportunities Master Fund, on behalf of its Class Action associates) move but allowed them to resubmit their claim with extra detais.

Click HERE for further details from Advanced Television

 

Intelsat left SES "on the hook" for C-band costs
Posted:
21 January 2023


January 20, 2023

 

SES has filed its response to Intelsat's bankruptcy court, arguing that when the two parties signed the 2018 [C-band] Consottium Agreement SES and Intelsat not only agreed to share equally in any proceeds resulting from clearing the C-Band, but they also agreed to share equally in expenses incurred in connection with their efforts -- whether or not the parties realised any proceeds from the C-Band clearing.

 

SES's response says that when Intelsat repudiated the Consortium Agreement, Intelsat did not comply with its expense reimbursement obligations, leaving SES on the hook for tens of millions of dollars in expenses incurred on behalf of the C-Band Alliance.  The claim is for $11.6 million.

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Click HERE for further details from Advanced TV.

 

Intelsat pursues Africa's unconnected
Posted:
20 January 2023

By Chris Forrester - January 19, 2023

Intelsat is making a concerted commitment to enhancing day-to-day network quality and helping African communications service providers (CSPs) deliver secure and affordable connectivity across the continent.

“Satellite communications providers (CSPs) have historically rushed to the rescue in the aftermath of a natural or manmade calamity that rendered a local terrestrial network unavailable. Today, Intelsat is making a concerted commitment to enhancing day-to-day network quality and helping African CSPs deliver secure and affordable connectivity across the continent,” said Intelsat’s Director of Sales, Africa Hans Geldenhuys in a blog post.

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Click HERE for further details from Advanced TV.

 

Japan Airlines offers free Intelsat IFC
Posted:
4 January 2023


 

by Chris Forrester - January 3, 2023

 

Intelsat has won a contract to supply Japan Airlines with its satellite broadband ‘direct-to-seat’ connectivity to J-Air’s Embraer E-190 aircraft.

Japan Airlines has installed Intelsat’s 2Ku system on the first of J-Air’s E190 aircraft and will be installing 13 additional aircraft by autumn 2024. The airline has been offering free wireless entertainment services since 2016. By adding 2Ku, this will make J-AIR the first regional aircraft in Japan to offer inflight entertainment and connectivity (IFEC) services, as well as the first E190 aircraft equipped globally with the Intelsat 2Ku system.

Click HERE for further details from Advanced Television

 

 

SES vs Intelsat rages on
Posted:  
4 January 2023

by Chris Forrester -- January 3, 2023

A slew of legal documents were submitted to Intelsat’s Chapter 11 post-bankruptcy reorganisation on December 28th by lawyers for Intelsat.

In essence, the filings represent the Final Report on Intelsat’s post-bankruptcy proceedings and an application to close certain outstanding matters.

One particular argument is over $12 million of expense and cost claims (“Bill of Costs”) made by SES in relation to its litigation – which is still running – over the 50/50 division of the FCC’s C-band incentive payments.

This batch of documents – the core filing runs to 159 pages – are all part of the wrapping up of Intelsat’s post-bankruptcy actions following on from Intelsat’s exiting of bankruptcy back in February 2022.

The US Bankruptcy Court at Richmond, Virginia, issued a formal notification of these final hearings back in October 2022. The motion to disallow the SES claim is set to be heard on January 31st.

Lawyers for Intelsat are arguing that “SES cannot succeed on these Expense Claims under any theory [and that] SES in fact owes Intelsat multiple millions of dollars.”

Any objections to the application must be filed by January 24th.

Click HERE for further details from Advanced Television

 

Powerful Ariane 5 rocket launches 3 satellites to orbit
Posted: 16 December 2022

by Elizabeth Howell — December 13, 2022

A powerful European rocket sent three satellites to Earth orbit on Tuesday (Dec. 13).

An Ariane rocket lifted off from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana on Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. EST *2030 GMT or 5:30 p.m. local time)

The rocket's star payload was Emetsat's Meteosat Third Generation (MTG) Imager-1, which will allow for "rapid detection and forecasting of severe weather events," according to a statement by Arianespace, the French company that operates the Ariane 5.

The newest generation of these satellites includes two new instruments, an imager and lightning imager, for higher-quality data to improve weather forecasting, according to a European Space Agency (ESA) statement.

The Ariane 5 also boosted the Galaxy 35 and Galaxy35 geosynchronous communications satellites to orbit on behalf of Intelsat, to replace the company's aging Galaxy 3C and Galaxy 28 satellites, respectively. (Intelsat has been refreshing its satellite fleet since 2020, and these satellites are the fifth and sixth of the refresh series.) 

Click HERE for further details from Space.com.

 

Intelsat court dates set
Posted:
13 December 2022


December 12, 2022

By Chris Forrester

 

A US bipartisan House Energy & Commerce Committee hyas introduced potential legislation to update the FCC's current satellite licensing rules.  One aspect will be the prohibition of Chinese businesses, although it is not yet completely clear whether the legislation will cover satellites where ownership - as distinct to components - includes Chinese companies.  This could affect Eutelsat and its merger with OneWeb, for example.  Eutelsat has a Chinese shareholder.

 

The legislation also covers Russia, although again further clarity will be need on operators which are correctly licensed by the ITU and how that would impact their US services.

.

Click HERE for further details from Advanced TV.

 

Intelsat court dates set
Posted:
8 December 2022


December 6, 2022

By Chris Forrester

 

Judge Jeffrey White has set some key dates in the Intelsat 'inside trading' class action allegatgions.  The judge has set the case to be "answered, or a Motion to Dismiss" on January 19th 2023.  Any Opposition filing must be made by March 2nd with a subsequent response from the Petitiners set with a deadline of March 30th.

 

The next Motion to Dismiss hearing is set for April 28th in Judge White's courtroom.

 

The complaint was originally mounted earlier this year but the judge dismissed the Federal Class Action but permitted the Plaintiffs to re-plead their case with more detail.  The claim has been resubmitted in the US District Court in the Northern District of California.  The Plaintiffs are asking for a jury trial.

 

Click HERE for further details from Advanced TV.

 

Intelsat 'insider trading' claim reinstated
Posted:  1 Decemberr 2022

by Chris Forrester -- December 1, 2022

Two major shareholders in the pre-bankruptcy Intelsat, plus the former chairman, are named again by Plaintiffs in a Class Action which alleges they took part in selling off investments in Intelsat help by inside knowledge.

The complaint was originally mounted earlier in 2022, but the judge in the case dismissed the Federal Class Action, nevertheless permitting to re-plead their case with more detail.  The claim has been resubmitted to the US District Court in the Northern District of California.  The Plaintiffs are asking for a jury trial.

Click HERE for further details from Advanced Television

 

Clearspace announces life extension collaboration with Intelsat
Posted 15 November 2022

by  — November 14, 2022

 

TAMPA, Fla. — ClearSpace, the Swiss orbital debris removal startup, said Nov. 14 it is planning a mission to extend the life of an Intelsat satellite before it runs out of fuel around 2026-2028.

The four-year-old company’s announcement gave no further details about its “collaboration” with Intelsat, which marks an expansion for ClearSpace out of plans to clean up debris in low Earth orbit (LEO) to servicing geostationary spacecraft.

Intelsat declined to comment on the specifics of its collaboration with ClearSpace.

“With this in-orbit servicing collaboration, besides the economic benefits of the services, Intelsat is supporting ClearSpace´s work towards an accessible, resilient and sustainable space economy,” Intelsat chief technology officer Bruno Fromont said.

ClearSpace aims to build on core capabilities it is already developing for the European Space Agency’s ClearSpace-1 program in 2025, the venture’s first mission, when it aims to use a spacecraft with four articulated arms to de-orbit part of a Vega rocket.

Separately in September, the UK Space Agency shortlisted groups led by ClearSpace and Japan-based in-orbit servicing venture Astroscale for a mission to remove two spacecraft from LEO in 2026.

Intelsat is currently the only satellite operator that has employed commercial life extension services.

Click HERE for further details from Spacenews.

 

SpaceX launches a pair of Intelsat satellites on expendable Falcon 9
Posted 15 November 2022

by  — November 14, 2022

TAMPA, Fla. — SpaceX successfully launched a second pair of C-band replacement satellites for Intelsat over the weekend on the final flight of a frequently used Falcon 9 booster.

A Falcon 9 carrying Galaxy 31 and Galaxy 32 lifted off Nov. 12 from Cape Canaveral, Florida, at 11:06 a.m. Eastern after a four-day delay caused by Hurricane Nicole.

In what has become a rare occurrence, SpaceX did not attempt to recover the Falcon 9’s booster for reuse following its 14th mission — which tied a reuse record for the company.

Using an expendable version of Falcon 9 enabled SpaceX to pack more propellant into the rocket for sending the Maxar Technologies-built satellites to a supersynchronous transfer orbit, rather than an orbit with an apogee below geostationary orbit (GEO).

Jean-Luc Foreliger, Intelsat’s senior vice president of space systems, said the operator paid a premium for this mission because the satellites needed an extra boost toward their final GEO destinations.

Click HERE for further details from Spacenews.

 

Intelsat orders small GEO satellite from 3D printing specialist
Posted:  8 November 2022

by Jason Rainbow -- November 7, 2022

TAMPA, Fla. — 3D printing specialist Swissto12 said Nov. 7 it has sold its first small satellite to Intelsat for a launch to geostationary orbit (GEO) in 2025.

Intelsat 45 (IS-45) will be based on Swissto12’s HummingSat satellite platform, which at about the size of a dishwasher is one-tenth the size of conventional GEO satellites.

At just one cubic meter in volume, Swissto12 CEO Emile de Rijk said HummingSats are “at least 3 times cheaper” than larger telecoms commercial satellites in GEO.

HummingSats will also have the same coverage area as traditional spacecraft in GEO, de Rijk said via email, although with less capacity because of their reduced space for transponders and power.

Intelsat 45 will have 12 Ku-band transponders, about a fourth as many as a classic mid-sized Intelsat satellite.

Click HERE for further details from Spacenews

 

FCC plans revamped Space Bureau
Posted:  4 November 2022

by Colin Mann -- November 3, 2022

Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel has unveiled a plan to reorganise the agency better to support the needs of the growing satellite industry, promote long-term technical capacity at the FCC, and navigate 21st global communications policy.

Under this plan, Chairwoman Rosenworcel will work to reorganise the FCC's International Bureau into a new Space Bureau and a standalone Office of International Affairs.  These changes will help ensure that the FCC's resources are better aligned so that the agency can continue to fulfill its statutory obligations and keep pace with the rapidly changing realities of the satellite industry and global communications policy.

Click HERE for further details from Advanced Television

 

SES outlines Intelsat appeal
Posted:  1 November 2022

by Chris Forrester -- October 31, 2022

Lawyers for SES submitted their bundle of documnts to the Appeal Court on October 28th, following up on their formal appeal lodged on October 14th with the US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.

In its 'statement of issues' the SES team will argue that Intelsat's bankruptcy count "erred in holding that the plain language of the [SES and Intelsat] Consortium Agreement - [which] mandated a 50/50 split of the [FCC's incentive payments] unambiguously excluded billions of dollars in incentive payments that the FCC awarded based on Intelsat's joint work with SES."

Click HERE for further details from Advanced Television

 

Inntelsat CEO David Wajsgras: 'Consolidation Makes Sense'
Posted:  25 October 2022

by Mark Holmes -- October 24, 2022

At World Satellite Business Week (WSBW) in Paris recently, there was a lot of chatter about a potential combination of Intelsat and SES. Rumors swirled, but this has always been an industry that loves consolidation rumors.

For Intelsat CEO David Wajsgras, who only became the CEO of Intelsat in early April, there are a number of huge challenges ahead. He became CEO of Intelsat at a pivotal point in its history. The 2020s are likely to be a decade where we see huge disruption in the satellite industry, and the role of traditional industry giants such as Intelsat is open to debate.

What does its future look like? What can or will it do in Non-Geostationary Orbit (NGSO)? Does it need to be involved in a big piece of consolidation? How does it stack-up against the megaconstellations as well as the likes of a combined Inmarsat/Viasat or Eutelsat/OneWeb? What a time to become the CEO of one of the biggest operators and be responsible for steering it through this disruptive decade.

Click HERE for further details from Via Satellite

 

Satellite operators gear up for Asia's tidal wave of satellite capacity
Posted:  21 October 2022

by Jason Rainbow -- October 20, 2022

Terry Bleakley, regional vice president of Asia Pacific for Intelsat, discussed the industry's supply and demand expectations Oct. 18 during  APSCC 2022. Credit APSCC Webcast

TAMPA, Fla. -- Satellite operators in Asia are banking on soaring demand for connecting plane passengers and other customers on the move to absorb an exponentially increasing supply of capacity in the region.

More integration between satellite and mobile network operators will also create new opportunities for putting this anticipated glut of supply to work, executives said Oct. 18 during the APSCC 2022 Satellite Conference and Exhibition in Seoul, South. Korea.

Northern Sky Research expects global capacity supply to soar from about 39 terabits per second (Tbps) today to 172 Tbps by 2030.

More than 61 Tbps of this satellite capacity is on track to cover Asia by 2030, according to Jose Rosario, research director at Northern Sky Research.

Click HERE for further details from Spacenews

 

Help Us Find These Members
Posted: 
21 October 2022

We have lost contact with these members below.  If you have any information on how to contact them, please send us an EMail at:  info@myiraa.comm

Mildred Coover
John Crispin

Lydia Esguerra
Fred Foldvary
Roy Lee Huffman
Jethro Shedrick

 

SES to appeal Intelsat C-band sharing decision
Posted:  18 October 2022

by Jason Rainbow -- October 17, 2022

Intelsat plans a multi-layered strategy post-restructuring to tailor connectivity services to diverse markets.  Credit Intelsat

TAMPA, Fla. -- SES filed plans Oct. 14 to appeal a court's decision last month that disallowed its bid to equally split nearly $9 billino of anticipated C-band clearning proceeds with Interlsat.

SES will ask the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia to review the decision, which the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia made Sept. 30 after more than two years of legal action.

The satellite operator brought a $1.8 billion claim to the bankrupcty court in July 2020, two months after Intelsat filed for Chaptl get for clearing C-band spectrum for terrestrial telcos.er 11, over a broken agreement to split proceeds they would get for clearing C-band spectrum for terrestrial telcos.

Click HERE for further details from Spacenews

 


Two Intelsat relay satellites ride to orbit in Space X rocket
Posted: 9 October 2022

 

SpaceX launched a pair of four-ton Intelsat communications spacecraft from Cape Canaveral at twilight Saturday evening, two days later than planned after back-to-back scrubs, on the third flight of a Falcon 9 rocket this week.

The Falcon 9 rocket lit nine kerosene-fueled Merlin 1D engines and thundered away from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 7:05 p.m. EDT (2305 GMT) Saturday. Thrust vector controls pivoted nine main engines to steer the 229-foot-tall (70-meter) rocket due east from pad 40, and the Falcon 9 raced through the speed of sound in less than a minute.

Click HERE for further details from Spaceflight Now.

 

SES loses Intelsat claim
Posted:  4 October 2022

October 3, 2022    |    By Chris Forrester

A Virginia bankruptcy court has ruled ("disallowed") the action by SES against Intelsat for a 50 per cent share of the FCC's C-band incentive payments.  The Court has allowed SES to appeal the decision it it so wishes.

SES says it is disappointed with the ruling "it is reviewing with outside counsel its options to appeal," says a statement.

Click HERE for further details from Advanced Television

 

Intelsat Class Action could continue
Posted:
30 September 2022


September 28, 2022

By Chris Forrester

 

On September 28th, we reported that a California judge cleared Intelsat's pre-bankruptcy major shareholders of a Class Action insider trading allegations.  Our report was accurate, but Judge Jeffrey White, from the US District Court for the Northern District of California, left a potential sting in the tail of his ruling.

 

The judge said that while the Action failed to describe the level of intention needed for an inside trading claim, the would-be Action plaintiffs may re-plead their claims and allegations.  The court noted, among other things, that the confidential witnesses do not point to any communications between CEO Steve Spengler and the Board on November 5th.  The court concluded that plaintiffs failed to sufficiently allege that the defendants possessed material non-public information and they they acted with scienter (intent or knowledge of wrong doing).

 

Click HERE for further details from Advanced TV.

 

Intelsat 'insider trader' action fails
Posted:
30 September 2022


September 28, 2022

By Chris Forrester

 

A California court cleared Intelsat's pre-bankruptcy major shareholders of insider trading allegations on September 27th.

 

The action started in late 2019 with allegations over violations of the federal securities laws.  The lawsuit alleges that the named defendants violated the Exchange Act by selling Intelsat shares while they were in possession of material non-public information, including that Intelsat SA had met with the FCC on November 5th 2019, to discuss the private sale of certain frequencies controlled by Intelsat SA for future 5G use (the 'C-Band')

 

Click HERE for further details from Advanced TV.

 

Viasat, Inmarsat, get UK merger approval
Posted:
18 September 2022

September 16, 2022   |    By Chris Forrester

Viasat and Inmarsat have received the UK government’s approval for their proposed merger.

The UK’s Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has announced that the transaction does not pose a risk to the UK’s national security.

In March 2022, the companies committed to economic undertakings with BEIS, which underlined their pledge to strengthen and advance the UK’s National Space Strategy. The economic undertakings include an expansion in the number of highly skilled jobs in key areas and a 30 per cent increase in overall research and development spending in the UK.

Click HERE for further details from Business Standard.

 

Intelsat promises transformation
Posted: 15 September 2022


September 15, 2022    |    By Chris Forresterr

Intelsat’s new CEO David Wajsgras spoke to delegates at the Euroconsult Paris World Satellite Business Week and said that Intelsat was looking at transformation on multiple levels.

Intelsat is now fully emerged from bankruptcy although also surrounded by rumours that there could be a merger with arch-rival SES.

Wajsgras joined Intelsat in April. He told delegates: “The way the industry looks today with the core players may or may not look the same in the next couple of years. We’re thinking through at Intelsat what’s the best path forward for us and we’re considering various types of opportunities that will help support our growth path. I’m sure I’m not the only one.”

Click HERE for further details from Advanced TV.

 

Intelsat lawyers explain chapter 11 challenges
Posted:
15 September 2022

September 12, 2022
 
 
Steven Serajeddini, a partner in giant US law firm Kirkland & Ellis, which represented Intelsat during its Chapter 11 restructuring, has explained to LevFin Insights how, as debtors’ counsel, they overcame many of the challenges faced by Intelsat during the process. He said that key to the settlement was consensus although it took “two hard-fought years” to get the result.

Admitting that it took “blood, sweat and tears” to achieve agreement, full consensus only came about at the 11th hour.

Serajeddini said: “Folks are going to remember [the bankruptcy] for a long time. Part of it obviously is the size of the matter. It’s one of the largest filings of the past couple of years, and in addition to that, it had unique complexity in terms of how it started, which was a company whose greatest source of value rested in the hands of how the FCC would approach monetisation of its C-Band [spectrum].”

Click HERE for further details from Advanced TV.

 

Intelsat wins $150m Alaskan contract
Posted:  15 September 2022

September 9, 2022    |    By Chris Forrester

Alaskan service provider GCI has signed a $150 million contract with Intelsat to expand telecoms capacity in rural areas of the US state.

GCI is already very experienced in providing satellite-based services. It has delivered geosynchronous (GEO) satellite-based connectivity for 35 years to provide data, video and voice services in the state. The new deal not only provides GCI with continued access to C-band and Ku-band capacity, which is already part of GCI’s satellite service portfolio, but it also provides new access to statewide Ka-band capacity.

Intelsat says it will supply a multi-satellite solution over a new and enhanced managed earth station platform and a tri-band (C, Ku and Ka) network that will cover the entire state of Alaska.

Click HERE for further details from Advanced Television

 

Welcome New Members
Posted:28 August 2022

We are pleased to Welcome the following new members to the Intelsat Retirees and Alumni Association:

August 2022

Maria-Marta Andrade
Aissatou Bah
Junie Nathani

 

Devas Multimedia seizes $87,457 cash in US in Antrix Corporation dispute
Posted:
18 August 2022

Press Trust of India  |  New Delhi 

Devas Multimedia has seized USD 87,457.47 cash that ISRO's commercial arm Antrix Corporation held in the US as it looked to enforce a USD 1.2 billion compensation it had won over a cancelled satellite deal, its lawyer said on Wednesday.

Devas Multimedia America Inc had sought seizure of USD 145,000 but the actual recovery was USD 87,457.47 (a little less than Rs 70 lakh). This came after it secured a favourable order from the Eastern District Court of Virginia, Matthew D McGrill said.

Click HERE for further details from Business Standard.

 

 

Intelsat, One-Web IFC Deal
Posted: 16 August 2022


August 12, 2022

By Chris Forrester

Intelsat and OneWeb have signed a “global distribution” partnership, an initiative to provide a global service for In Flight Communications and broadband to aircraft.

Intelsat already has considerable skin in the game because it bought in 2020 the commercial aviation connectivity business from Gogo for what many have seen as being a timely ‘bargain’ of $400 million (€388m). Gogo is still very much active but now concentrates only on business aviation and private jets.

Click HERE for further details from Advanced TV.

 

Satellites maker SES beats profit estimates, sees upside to market consolidation
Posted:
4 August 2022

The Financial Times reported on Thursday SES was in talks to merge with its U.S. rival Intelsat SA, signaling consolidation in the rapidly changing industry.
  • Reuters  August 04, 2022, 13:24 IST

    By Dina Kartit and Elena Vardon

    Satellite company SES's CEO reiterated on Thursday he saw industry consolidation as a good thing for the highly competitive market, but would not comment on merger rumours after the group posted stronger-than-expected half-year earnings.

    Te Financial Times reported on Thursday SES was in talks to merge with its U.S. rival Intelsat SA, signally consolidation in the rapidly changing and competitive industry.

    "We've talked on this call and on analyst calls about industry consolidation and how that is...from my perspective at least, a good thing for the industry, but we obviously don't comment on any market rumours or speculation," Chief Executive Stevbe Collar told reporters in an earnings call.

  • Click HERE for further details from ET Satcom.

     

    SES, Intelsat merger talks?
    Posted:
    4 August 2022


    August 4, 2022

    By Chris Forrester

    SES and Intelsat are reportedly in talks about a possible combination, says the Financial Times.

    The two satellite giants are in active discussions about the structure of any potential deal, according to three people familiar with the matter, says the FT, as a wave mergers and acquisitions sweeps aceross the satellite industry.  "Neither wants to be the last one standing," said one person close to the matter.

    Click HERE for further details from Advanced TV.

     

    Eutelsat and OneWeb to combine:  a leap forward in Satellite Connectivity
    Posted: 2 August 2022

    PRESS RELEASE -26 JULY 2022 07;01

    • Eutelsat and key OneWeb shareholders [1] sign a Memorandum of Understanding with a view to combining Eutelsat and OneWeb in an all-share transaction.

    • Eutelsat shareholders and OneWeb shareholders [2] would each hold 50% of the Eutelsat shares.

    • Compelling financial profile with:

      • Potential for double-digit revenue and EBITDA CAGR over the medium to longer tyerm;

      • Eutelsat's strong cash flow generation providing visibility and funding to support continued expansion into the LEO market through OneWeb's next generation of satellites;

      • Over €1.5bn potential incremental value-creation after tax (net of implementation costs) stemming from revenue, capex and cost synergies.

    • Balanced board and governance structure, to include Eutelsat’s Chairman and its CEO, OneWeb’s Chairman, and a significant number of independent directors proposed by Eutelsat and OneWeb’s shareholders, at Extraordinary General Meeting.
       
    • Fully backed by a strong set of strategic shareholders of both entities, including Bpifrance and Fonds Stratégique de Participations who have undertaken to vote in favour of the transaction-related resolutions at this EGM, subject to usual conditions. CMA CGM, a shareholder of Eutelsat, is also supporting the combination.
    • Representing a transformational transaction, built on the strong foundations established in April 2021 with Eutelsat’s initial investment in OneWeb, this combination creates a global leader uniquely positioned to capture the Connectivity market with complementary GEO/LEO[3] offering.
    • Combined entity strongly positioned to address the fast-growing global Connectivity market..

    • The transaction values OneWeb at $34.4bn implying a value of €12 per Eutelsat share (including the dividend, before synergies).

    • Eutelsat to propose a €0.93 per share dividend with a scrip option in respect of FY 2021-22 at its upcoming AGM. Such dividend will not impact the exchange ratio.

    • Eutelsat will continue to be listed on Euronext Paris and apply for admission to standard listing on the London Stock Exchange.

    Click HERE for further details from Eutelsat

     

    Further bad news for Eutelsat/OneWeb
    Posted:
    1 August 2022

    The EU has firmly ruled out the proposed Eutelsat/OneWeb merger as qualifying as the likely candidate for the EU's own planned Low Earth Orbiting (LEO) broadband constellaton.

    As reported by Sami Kassab, satellite analyst at investmnet back Exane/BNPP, Christopher Grudier, the member of the European Parliament in charge of the EU's LEO satellite project announced that "a rapprochement of OneWeb with the Europeransat constellation seems impossible".  He claimed that "the EU cannot accept a UK veto on a secure connectivity infrastructure".  He argued that "the European Union needs to have full control over its satellites without a risk of hindrance by an outside actor."  Adding "Europe will not compromise on this point".

    Grudier is referring to the golden share the UK Government has in OneWeb, and which Eutelsat says would remain in place once the 'merger' with OneWeb goes ahead.  The 'golden share' has teh ability to block the sale of OneWeb capacity to undesired countries.

    Click HERE for further details from Advanced TV.

     

    Help Us Find These Members
    Posted: 
    31 July 2022

    We have lost contact with these members below.  If you have any information on how to contact them, please send us an EMail at:  info@myiraa.comm

    Mildred Coover
    John Crispin

    Lydia Esguerra
    Fred Foldvary
    Roy Lee Huffman
    Jethro Shedrick

     

    Eutelsat+OneWeb: "Disappointing valuation" says bank
    Posted:
    27 July 2022

    Investment bank Exane/BNPP, in a comprehensive report on the proposed merger between satellite operator Eutelsat and Low Earth Orbit constellation OneWeb, says the "increase in interest rates, inflation, the war in Ukraine, [OneWeb] Gen2 funding requirements all suggest a bit of patience could have improved the financial outcome for minority shareholders...but the new EU space policy apparently has precedence".

    Analyst Sami Kassab, author of the report, says the bank believes the timing of this deal has to be seen first and foremost in the context of the new European space policy and of the French government's geopolitical agenda.  Nevertheless, he describes the merger as "profoundly changing the economic model of Eutelsat".

    Click HERE for further details from Advanced TV.

     

    Eutelsat,OneWeb to merge;Bharti to be single largest shareholder
    Posted:
    26 July 2022

    Eutelsat and OneWeb Ltd are set to combine in an all-share deal valuing the UK satellite operator at $3.4 bn, a step toward creating a European champion to rival the likes of Elon Musk's SpaceX

    Topics

    Press Trust of India | New Delhi

    French satellite operator Eutelsat and key shareholders of Bharti-backed OneWeb have inked a pact for merger, entailing all-share transacton, a statement said on Tuesday.

    Post closing of the deal, Bharti Group will be the single largest shareholder of Eutelsat.

    The transactionj values OneWeb at USD 3.4 billion (over Rs 27,000 crore),according to a joint statement.

    Eutelsat willo combine its strong fleet of 36 Geostationary Orbit (GEO) satellites with OneWeb's constellation of 648 Low Earth Orbit satellites, of which 428 are currently in orbit.

    The announcement has a takeaway from the India market as well, where OneWeb had received the letter of intent for the GMPCS (Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite) licence from the Department of Telecom.

    Click HERE for further details from Business Standard.

     

    Welcome New Member
    Posted:
    18 July 2022

    We are pleased to Welcome the following new member to the Intelsat Retirees and Alumni Association:

    July 2022

    Hubert Keel

     

    Bank:  SES/Intelsat merger worthwhile?
    Posted:
    28 June 2022

    Equity analysts at Credit Suisse have asked a key question in a fresh report and pondering whether a merger between the world’s two biggest satellites operators, SES and Intelsat, both based in Luxembourg, would pan out.

    Their answer is a simple: you bet it would.

    The bank’s report (European Satellite: Scaling Up) suggests that there would be a 30 per cent uplift to the overall equity value of the rivals and make complete sense.

    Analyst Ben Lyons sums up the benefits saying that the theoretical proposal could make industrial sense as both the operators have global reach with more potential synergies, and both are pursuing Medium-Earth Orbit (MEO) strategies.

    Click HERE for further details from Advanced TV

     

    Credit Suisse Report Highlight Synergy  of Hypothetical SES/Intelsat Merger
    Posted: 26 June 2022

    By  | June 24, 2022

    A new report from Credit Suisse explores possibilities for consolidation among the largest companies in the satellite sector, estimating that in the event that SES and Intelsat merged, it could provide more than 30% uplift to the equity value. Credit Suisse shared the report, “European Satellite: Scaling Up” with Via Satellite.

    Ben Lyons, a satellite equity analyst at Credit Suisse said in the report that an SES/Intelsat merger “would make economic sense.” He says Credit Suisse believes theoretically it could make industrial sense to combine SES and Intelsat, as both have global reach with more potential synergies, and are pursuing Medium-Earth Orbit (MEO) strategies.

    “On our scenario analysis, a potential combination could generate synergies with an NPV [net present value] of $2.6 billion and, if SES captures half of those synergies, that would imply a roughly more than 30% uplift to the equity value. We believe consolidation for SES is more straightforward economically speaking as the OneWeb stake makes consolidation more complex, but not impossible, for Eutelsat,” he says.

    Click HERE for further details from Via Satellite

     

    Intelsat looks to wrap bankruptcy claims
    Posted: 20 June 2022

    June 17, 2022

    Lawyers for Intelsat's bankruptcy filed a motion to the satellite operator's bankruptcy court saying that they will b e apply for a 'Final Decree' on or before June 29th.  The doucmnet recognises that there may be other matteres and claims still outstanding after that date.

    Intelsat's Fourth Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganisation was filed back on December 17th 2021 and subsequently accepted by the court with Intelsat emerging from its Chapter 11 rteorganisation on Frebruary 23rd 2022.

    Click HERE for further details from Advanced TV

     

    Intelsat serving 10,000 vessles
    Posted:
    10 June 2022

    June 10, 2022

    By Chris Forrester

     

    Intelsat is now serving more than 10,000 vessels with its Flexmartime Service.

     

    Intelsat says it has more than 2,000 of its terminals in key martime markets since November 2021, that includemerchant shipping, fishing, leisure and offshore energy.

     

    Launched in 2017, FlexMaritime is powered by a globel, multi-layered, high-throughut satellite (HTS) network capable of deliver high density bandwidth and extremely high levels of service flexibility and reliability.

    Click HERE for further details from DEuropean Union

     

    Welcome New Members
    Posted:
    16 May 2022

    We are pleased to Welcome the following new members to the Intelsat Retirees and Alumni Association:

    May 2022


    Angela Maimo
    Daniel Stefanita

     

    Help Us Find These Members
    Posted: 
    22 April 2022

    We have lost contact with these members below.  If you have any information on how to contact them, please send us an EMail at:  info@myiraa.comm

    John Crispin
    Lydia Esguerra
    Roy Lee Huffman

     

    Welcome New Member
    Posted:
    6 April 2022

    We are pleased to Welcome the following new member to the Intelsat Retirees and Alumni Association:

    April 2022

    Raj Mehta

     

    David Wajsgras to Become Intelsat CEO
    Posted: 7 March 2022

    McLean, Va. – Intelsat, operator of the world’s largest integrated satellite and terrestrial network, has tapped David Wajsgras, as its next chief executive officer (CEO). Effective April 4, Wajsgras succeeds Stephen Spengler, who announced his planned retirement in Oct. 2021.

    Wajsgras has two decades of experience at the senior executive management level, providing operational, strategic and financial leadership in both the commercial and defense industries. He most recently served as president of the global, $7.5-billion, advanced-technology Intelligence, Information and Services (IIS) business at the former Raytheon Company, now part of Raytheon Technologies (NYSE: RTX). Before joining Raytheon as chief financial officer, Wajsgras was executive vice president and chief financial officer at Lear Corporation (NYSE: LEA) and held other key operations and leadership roles.

    “Dave Wajsgras is a results-oriented leader with a great track record of performance throughout his career,” said Lisa Hammitt, chairperson of the Intelsat Board of Directors. “He develops talent and builds teams, thinks and acts strategically, and engages positively with customers and other stakeholders to the benefit of the business. Dave is just the right person to lead Intelsat at this important time.”

    '''

    Click HERE for further details from Bloomberg

     

    Microsoft Does Private Wireless with Intelsat; updates Azure Cloud for AT&T
    Posted: 28 February 2022

    By Linda Hardesty - Feb 28, 2022 01:53pm

    Microsoft had a couple of telecom announcements to insert itself into the conversations this week around MWC 2022 in Barcelona.

    Microsoft said it worked with Intelsat to demonstrate a private wireless netowork.. Intelsat provided its integrated satellite and terrestrial networks, while Microsoft contributed various Azure technologies. The demonstration was held at Intelsat’s office in McLean, Virginia. It established a reference architecture for deploying private LTE and 5G networks over satellite to enterprise locations around the world.

    The demonstration was held at Intelsat's office in McLean, Virginia.  It established a reference architecture for deploying private LTE and 5G networks over satellite to enterprise locations around the world.

    For the demonstration, the two companies created a private LTE service using Azure Private 5G Core deployed on an Azure Stack Edge device.  Connectivity to the internet and Azure services was enabled by Intelsat's FlexEnterprise, which is the company's satellite-based global connectivity service.

    Click HERE for further details from Fierce Wireless

     

    Intelsat Collaborates with Microsoft to Demonstrate Private Cellular Network Using Intelsat's Global Satellite and Ground Network
    Posted: 27 February 2022

    McLean, Va., and Redmond, Wash. – Intelsat, operator of one of the world’s largest and most advanced integrated satellite and terrestrial networks, today announced the successful demonstration of a first of its kind private cellular network with Microsoft Azure Private Multi-Access Edge Compute and FlexEnterprise, Intelsat’s satellite-based global connectivity service.

    Held at Intelsat’s office in McLean, VA, the demonstration successfully establishes a reference architecture for deploying secure, high-performance private LTE and 5G networks and other cloud services over satellite networks to enterprise locations virtually anywhere globally, including those in remote and austere environments.

    The demonstration creates a private LTE service using Azure Private 5G Core deployed on an Azure Stack Edge device. Connectivity to the internet and Azure services is enabled by Intelsat’s FlexEnterprise. Via the private cellular network, users can access local enterprise resources via SIM-authenticated connections to the Azure Stack Edge and access remote resources through the FlexEnterprise connection, the IntelsatOne global network and Azure. Additionally, the LTE network powers a Wi-Fi access point and IoT applications. “As enterprises look to private cellular networks to improve the reach, security, and quality-of-service over Wi-Fi-only local networks, the ability to support deployments at any site is crucial to creating a fully connected organization,” said Jean-Philippe Gillet, SVP Global Sales Media & Networks, Intelsat. “The applications demonstrated here with Microsoft highlight the increased automation and standardization of enterprise data processing services that globally-available private cellular networks will enable. Support for high-bandwidth, low-latency networks is central to Intelsat’s vision of an end-to-end ecosystem for a global software-defined 5G network.”

    Click HERE for further details from Intelsat.

     

    Intelsat wipes out 9.5bn debit as it emerges from bankruptcy
    Posted: 25 February 2022

    Alan Burkitt-Gray   February 24, 2022 07:54 AM

    Satellite operator Intelsat has emerged from bankruptcy with its debt cut from US$16 billion to $7 billion, and with $6.7 billion in new finance.

    The move comes 21 months after the company - with a history that dates back more than 60 years - went into Chapter 11 protection under US bankruptcy laws. 

    The biggest new shareholder, with 32.8%, is Pacific Investment Management Company (Pimco), whose ultimate parent, according to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), is Allianz SE, a Munich financial services company.

    Shares in the new Intelsat – which is registered in Luxembourg – will be traded on the over-the-counter (OTC) market.

    The new shareholders have put in place a new board of directors, chaired by Lisa Hammitt (pictured) and including CEO Stephen Spengler.

    Click HERE for further details from Capacity

     

    Welcome New Member
    Posted: 16 January
    2022

    We are pleased to Welcome the following new member to the Intelsat Retirees and Alumni Association:

    December 2021

    Muneo Abe

     

     

    Notification of Intention to Acquire Intelsat by Allianz SE
    Posted:
    7 January 2022


    Below found on the European Union website by a member:

    1.  On 21 December 2021, the Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 and following a referral pursuant to Article 4(5) of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1).

    This notification concerns the following undertakings:

    Allianz SE (‘Allianz’, GERMANY),

    Intelsat Holdings S.A. (‘Intelsat’, USA)

    Allianz acquires within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation sole control of the whole of Intelsat

    The concentration is accomplished by way of purchase of shares.

    2.  The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

    for Allianz: Allianz is the ultimate parent of the Allianz group, a global financial services company active predominantly in relation to life and non-life insurance and asset management,

    for Intelsat: operation of satellite networks, ground networks and connectivity infrastructure and provision of diversified communications services to customers such as telecommunications operators, media companies, and internet service providers. Intelsat uses its satellites as relay stations in space for the transmission of voice, video, and data communications.

    Click HERE for further details from DEuropean Union

     

    Intelsat Achieves Confirmation of  Plan of Reorganization, Final Court Milestone in Financial Restructuring Process
    Posted:
    16 December 2021

    Fully Consensual Plan Will Reduce Debt by More Than Half and Position Company for Long-Term Success

    Early 2022 Emergence Expected as Company Builds World’s First Global 5G Satellite-Based, Software-Defined, Unified Network

    Commitments Obtained for Nearly $8 Billion in Exit Financing

    MCLEAN, VA -- December 16, 2021 -- Intelsat S.A. (OTC: INTEQ) announced today that the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Richmond Division, has approved its Plan of Reorganization, marking the final Court milestone in the Company's financial restructuring process.  Intelsat is poised to emerge from the process in early 2022 upon receipt of regulatory approvals, completion of certain corporate actions, and satisfaction of other customary conditions.

    The confirmed Plan will reduce Intelsat's debt by more than half -- from approximately $16 billion to $7 billion -- and position the Company for long-term success as it innovates and brings new services to market.  The Plan was supported by all creditor groups across Intelsat's capital structure following extensive negotiations and the ultimate consensual resolution of a multitude of complex issues.

    Click HERE for further details from Intelsat.

     

    Intelsat formal hearings commence
    Posted:
    7 December 2021

    Judge Keith L. Phillips opened the formal hearings into Intelsat’s Chapter 11 exit plan. The process is scheduled to last about 10 days. Around 216 lawyers and observers attended the Zoom meeting for sessions which were described as “complex”.

    The court was told that more than 90 percent of claimants against the various Intelsat entities had accepted the terms of the exit plan and bankruptcy reconstruction. The complexity was largely because of the many different Intelsat businesses as well as those Intelsat entities which traded from Luxembourg.

    Click HERE for further details from Advanced TV

     

    Welcome New Member
    Posted: 7 November
    2021

    We are pleased to Welcome the following new member to the Intelsat Retirees and Alumni Association:

    November 2021

    Maria Mills

     

    Intelsat CEO Stephen Spengler to Retire as Company Plans Chapter 11 Exit
    Posted:
    21 October 2021

    By  | October 21, 2021

     

    After almost seven years as CEO and more than 18 years at Intelsat, CEO Steve Spengler plans to retire once the company completes Chapter 11 financial restructuring and selects a successor. Intelsat announced the change Thursday morning, and said Spengler will lead the company until then. 

    The Intelsat news came as a surprise before the stock market opened on Thursday. Its stock closed 36% up on Thursday, and was up 81.82% after the announcement. 

    A senior Intelsat official told Via Satellite that they were not aware of Spengler’s retirement plans until the announcement was made.

    This was confirmed by another Intelsat official directly involved with the company’s strategic planning, who told Via Satellite, “It was a surprise to me. I think it was for people above me in the chain of command.”

    The strategy official added that Spengler has not made direct contact with their team. “He sent us an email. Basically [it was] the same as the press release.”

    Click HERE for further details from Satellite Today

     

    Betting on flexibility: Intelsat's post-bankruptcy growth strategy
    Posted: 18 October 2021

    SpaceNews spoke with Samer Halawi, Intelsat’s executive vice president and chief commercial officer, to learn more about the satellite giant’s post-restructuring growth strategy.

    Intelsat is devising a transformational business plan for after it emerges from bankruptcy restructuring later this year, including a big bet on software-defined satellites and potentially its own low-Earth-orbit broadband constellation.

    The operator, which has been in Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for nearly a year and a half, issued a request for proposals (RFP) at the end of July for 10 satellites that could be reconfigured in-orbit for changing mission needs.

    Click HERE for further details from SPACENEWS

     

    Intelsat "steals billions" Claims SES
    Posted 13 October 2021

    Last week it was an Intelsat motion to its bankruptcy court that accused SES of being “on a warpath” as far as its allegations over SES claims concerning how the FCC’s C-band incentive payments were concerned.

    SES responded on October 11th with a detailed rebuttal saying it had proposed “numerous compromises” to Intelsat and asked the bankruptcy court to permit SES to take four depositions from Intelsat witnesses “who have personal knowledge highly relevant to SES’s objections”.

    Click HERE for further details from Advanced TV

     

    Intelsat: "SES on a Warpath"
    Posted 8 October 2021

    The long-running legal dispute between SES and Intelsat over the division of the FCC’s ‘incentive’ payments regarding the C-Band Alliance has provoked another tough response from Intelsat’s lawyers.

    A filing into Intelsat’s bankruptcy court on October 6 states that “SES has been on a warpath in this proceeding” and had spent millions of dollars “and imposing every burden it can think of in an effort to disrupt the restructuring of its chief competitor”.

    Click HERE for further details from Advanced TV

     

    Welcome New Members
    Posted: 27 September
    2021

    We are pleased to Welcome the following new member to the Intelsat Retirees and Alumni Association:

    September 2021

    Ellen Brager
    George Giagtzolou
    Tony Trujillo

     

    SES vs Intelsat Trial Delayed
    Posted:
    17 September 2021

    The SES claim against Intelsat for a potential $1.8 billion has been postponed.

    Judge Keith Phillips, who is overseeing Intelsat’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy reconstruction, had earlier confirmed that the trial date for the SES vs Intelsat dispute over FCC payment allocations would start on September 20th. A new date has not – as yet – been circulated.

    Click HERE for further details from Advanced TV

     

     

    SES Accuses Intelsat of 'siphoning' Billions
    Posted:
    1 September 2021

    It has long been a complaint from SES that Intelsat, in its complex Chapter 11 bankruptcy, is using associate and sister businesses to shift incoming cash (and in particular the so-called incentive payments from the FCC over the C-band reallocation of spectrum). SES describes the Intelsat action as playing a “shell game” and that Intelsat is using sleight of hand in how it proposes allocating the FCC’s incentive payments.

    The matter was raised again in a motion to Intelsat’s bankruptcy court on August 30th where SES again objected to the risk of Intelsat “siphoning billions of dollars from the Debtors’ principal operating entity, Intelsat US, and disadvantage SES, their main competitor and one of Intelsat US’s largest creditors.”

    Click HERE for further details from Advanced TV

     

     

    SES Demands Trial on It's $1.8bn Claim
    Posted: 27 August 2021

    On September 1st the Intelsat bankruptcy court is scheduled to hold a pre-trial hearing on the SES claim for a greater share of the FCC’s incentive payments due from the C-band clearing process and auction. SES, in a filing to the court on August 25th, is asking that the actual trial scheduled for September 20th be started on that date and not further adjourned or postponed.

    SES suggests that a trial over Zoom could ease challenges for all concerned and save case witnesses from both sides having to travel to Richmond, Virginia along with “hundreds of people” including lawyers and other experts involved with commensurate financial savings. A fixed date and remote Zoom hearing “Would give the parties some certainty; given the unpredictable trajectory of the Covid-19 pandemic and its effect on in-person proceedings, there is no guarantee that an adjournment would make it possible to proceed in person anytime in the near future.”

    Click HERE for further details from Advanced Television

     

    Intelsat Achieves Support of Nearly 75% of Funded Debt on Comprehensive Financial Restructuring
    Posted: 25 August 2021

    Key Creditor Groups Agree to Vote in Favor of Amended Plan of Reorganization

    Path to Emergence by End of 2021, with Company's Debt Reduced by More Than Half

    MCLEAN, VA - August 24, 2021 - Intelsat S.A. (OTC: INTEQ), operator of the world's largest and most advanced integrated satellite and terrestrial network, today announced that it has achieved the support of key creditor groups across the capital structure on the terms of a comprehensive financial restructuring that would reduce the Company's debt by more than half - from nearly $15 billion to $7 billion - and position the Company for long-term success.

    The Company has filed an Amended Plan of Reorganization in its Chapter 11 proceedings pending before the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Richmond Division, accompanied by an explanatory Disclosure Statement.  The Amended Plan has the support of holders of approximately $11 billion, or nearly 75% of the Company's funded debt.  These supporting creditors have executed a Plan Support Agreement that binds their support for the Company's Amended Plan.

    The Company is seeking Court approval of the Disclosure Statement and to establish procedures to solicit votes on the Amended Plan at a hearing scheduled for September 1, 2021.

    Click HERE for further details from Intelsat

     

    Welcome New Members
    Posted: 24
    August 2021

    We are pleased to Welcome the following new members to the Intelsat Retirees and Alumni Association:

    August
    2021

    Lawrence (Larry) Brown
    Michael J. Brown
    Yao
    Gao
    Mic
    hael Goldstein

    Ana
    Maria Puch
    Vince Wali
    sko

     

    SES vs Intelsat hearings: Public barred
    Posted:
    20 August 2021

    The August 19th application by Intelsat and SES to have much of their court arguments heard privately was granted by Intelsat’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy Judge.

    Despite a strong case submitted by the US Trustee, who argued that the two litigants were seeking to close the courthouse door during their submissions and that the public had a right to know what was being presented to the court, Judge Keith Phillips ruled that the elements of the SES and Intelsat submissions – whether confidential or not – could remain ‘sealed’ and with the court proceedings only available (and viewable on Zoom) to approved lawyers for the parties involved.

     

    Click HERE for further details from Advanced Television

     

    Musk's Space Push Forces Satellite Rivals into Merger Mode
    Posted:
    20 August 2021

    (Bloomberg) -- Plans by Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos to launch thousands of satellites into orbit are forcing an industry that’s traditionally wary of mergers to prepare for consolidation.   The billions of dollars that Musk is pouring into his Starlink broadband internet service are skewing the economics of space for companies like SES SA, the world’s second-biggest satellite operator by sales. The growth of streaming over fiber optics threatens another of their mainstays -- satellite TV.

    Takeovers, investments and joint ventures in the industry this year have already surpassed 2020, with more than $3.6 billion spent on them so far in 2021, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

     

    Click HERE for further details from Bloomberg

     

    SES Seeks Speedier Summary Judgment in C-Band Case Against Intelsat
    Posted: 17 June 2021

    by  — 

    TAMPA, Fla. — SES is asking Intelsat’s bankruptcy court for a speedier summary judgment on the satellite operators’ C-band dispute instead of a full trial.

    The company said in a June 16 court filing that it had already submitted enough evidence for a ruling in its favor over Intelsat’s withdrawal from their C-Band Alliance, where it said the competitors agreed to split proceeds from clearing the spectrum evenly.

    This includes emails and text messages among senior Intelsat executives that SES says support its case.

    SES said in the filing that Intelsat wrongfully seeks to keep a $421 million chunk of the C-band proceeds from the company as a result.

    Satellite operators are in line for $9.7 billion in total from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for clearing 300MHz of C-band, provided they meet deadlines for making it available for wireless 5G operators. 

    Intelsat and SES hold the largest share of the 500 MHz C-band in the U.S. and will get $4.9 billion and $3.97 billion, respectively, under the FCC’s plan.

    Click HERE for further details from Spacenews

     

    Welcome New Member
    Posted: May 17, 2020

    We are pleased to Welcome the following new member to the Intelsat Retirees and Alumni Association:

    May 2021

    Richard Scott Chilcote

     

    Intelsat and SES On Course for Mammoth C-Band Payments
    Posted 9 May 2021

    by  — 

    • Intelsat's Q1 earnings down 50% year over year despite higher revenue due to Gogo acquisition

    • COVID-19 drags down SES Q1 revenue; operator says video decline is slowing

    • Intelsat and SES C-ban legal battle rages on

    TAMPA, Fla. — Satellite operators Intelsat and SES say they are on track to meet a key C-band spectrum clearing deadline this year, despite ongoing COVID-19 disruption.

    The pandemic has been slowing supply chains for delivering upgrades and filters needed to clear the frequencies for terrestrial 5G wireless operators — and limiting access to sites to install them.

    But Intelsat and SES, which hold the lion’s share of C-band in the United States and will get around $9 billion combined if they clear their part of the 300 megahertz of auctioned spectrum in time, said during financial results they are on track for the first big deadline Dec. 5.

    That is when a portion of the spectrum currently being used to provide TV and radio to nearly 120 million U.S. homes must be available for 5G mobile.

    Intelsat and SES will get $1.2 billion and $1 billion, respectively, if they meet the Dec. 5 deadline for clearing the first 120 megahertz of C-band the U.S. Federal Communications Commission began auctioning off late last year.

    Click HERE for further details from Spacenews.

     

    Help Us Find These Members
    Posted: 
    16 April 2021

    We have lost contact with these members below.  If you have any information on how to contact them, please send us an EMail at:  info@myiraa.comm

    Mike Brown
    John Crispin

    Lee Huffman

     

    Intelsat's Chapter 11 Exit Plan Falters
    Posted:
    12 April 2021

    Intelsat is asking its Chapter 11 bankruptcy court for more time to deliver its exit plan from bankruptcy.

    A hearing scheduled for April 14th will see Judge Phillips asked for more time. Intelsat says the additional time is necessary to ensure that it maintains control of its case, which is particularly complicated because of the dozens of subsidiary and sister businesses under various Intelsat names all of which are affected by the bankruptcy.

    Click HERE for further details from Advanced Television

     

    Welcome New Members
    Posted: March 27, 2021

    We are pleased to Welcome the following new members to the Intelsat Retirees and Alumni Association:

    February 2021

    Phil Spector

    March 2021

    Tokuo Oishi
    Benjamin Smith

     

    Intelsat Court Hearing on March 17
    Posted: 9 March 2021

    Intelsat’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy court will hold an omnibus hearing on March 17th.

    The remote video hearing will see Judge Philips hear a number of motions. Three important items listed for hearing are the application by Intelsat’s lawyers for the court to approve Intelsat’s request for an “Expedited” process for its exit plan from bankruptcy.

    Click HERE for further details from Advanced Television

     

    Inaugural Congress of the Global Alliance for International Collaboration in Space (GALIX)
    Posted: 23 February 2021

    You are cordially invited to register for the Global Alliance for International Space Collaboration (GALIX) Congress on March 18-19. (10:00am-12:30pm EDT and 15:00-17:30 pm CET) This global forum features many key space leaders from around the world including NASA Chief Scientist James Green, Niklas Hedman of the UN OOSA, Michelle Hanlon of For All Moonkind, Juan De Dalmau President of the Internat’l Space Univ., Lucy Stojak of the Canadian Space Council, Alicia Woodly of Axiom, J-J Tortora of the European Space Policy Institute, Su-Yin Tan of the Univ. of Waterloo, Canada, Dr. Kai-Uwe Shrogl of ESA/DLR, and many other notables listed in the Program at GALIX.net.

    Please go to  https://www.galix.net and click on registration page. Notice of the Zoom Address will be sent to you in coming days. The Purpose of GALIX is to expand international collaboration in space and to enhance space policy, financial opportunity, education and training, and regulation to this end of global partnership. Some fifteen organizations are working in collaboration on this global initiative. Registration is on a first come and first serve basis and a Zoom address for this event will be provided to you in coming days after you are registered.
     

    Joseph N. Pelton, Chairman of the Board of GALIX, Dean Emeritus, International Space University, Founder of the Arthur C. Clarke Foundation, Founding President of the SSPI, Member of the International Academy of Astronautics

     

    Chairman of Embattled Satellite Operator Accused of Insider Trading
    Posted:
    18 January 2021

    The chairman of satellite operator Intelsat is being sued for insider trading in an explosive new shareholder lawsuit that also dings private-equity giants BC Partners and Silver Lake Partners, a New York Knicks shareholder.

    The Oakland, Calif., federal court lawsuit claims that David McGlade, Intelsat’s chairman and former CEO, sold stock in the satellite operator on Nov. 5, 2019 — mere hours after the company’s CEO learned that the Federal Communications Commission was leaning against a proposal that would have earned the company billions.

    McGlade made the trade — together with fellow Intelsat insiders Silver Lake and BC Partners — via a $246 million block sale of 10 million shares, the lawsuit says. Weeks later, on Nov. 18, the FCC rejected Intelsat’s proposal to run the sale of government-owned airwaves it had been using for TV and radio communications — squashing its dreams of a $7 billion-plus windfall. By May, the company had filed for bankruptcy protection. The stock, which had been trading at around $23 a share ahead of the insider selling, closed Friday at 72 cents a share..

    Click HERE for further details from New York Post

     

    Happy New Year 2021!
    Posted: 1 January 2022

     

    Happy Holidays Everyone
    Posted: December 17, 2020

    The Board of Directors and Volunteers of the Intelsat Retirees and Alumni Association wish you peace, joy and good health during your holidays celebrated and a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year 2021 ahead!

    Here is a lovely YouTube video you may enjoy of people from 50 COVID countries singing Amazng Grace
     

     

    Trial Date Set for the SES + Intelsat Legal Dispute
    Posted 7 December 2020

    Intelsat’s bankruptcy court on December 3 said the dispute between SES Americom and Intelsat would go to trial next June — the news coincides with a 126-page filing to Intelsat’s court from SES that pulls no punches in its claims.

    At the heart of the legal dispute between SES and Intelsat is an argument over Intelsat’s handling of an alleged 50-50 agreed division within the C-Band Alliance (CBA) and how the FCC ‘incentive’ payments over the reallocation of both satellite operators’ C-band frequencies would be allocated. SES is claiming $1.8 billion from Intelsat.

    The FCC-organized auction over the sale of the spectrum is now occurring.

    The SES vs Intelsat legal action kicked off with a July 14 claim lodged by SES where SES claimed damages and which included alleged breaches of contract, fiduciary duties and unjust enrichment. Intelsat firmly rejected the claim and, in October, added in its own allegations that SES had “improperly shared” a confidential report with the FCC and that the SES claims are without merit.

    Click HERE for further details from Satnews

     

    Welcome New Members
    Posted: October 26, 2020

    We are pleased to Welcome the following new members to the Intelsat Retirees and Alumni Association:

    October 2020

    Paul Tan
    William Wu
     

     

    Welcome New Members
    Posted: September 14, 2020

    We are pleased to Welcome the following new members to the Intelsat Retirees and Alumni Association:

    September 2020

    James (Jimmy) Ferrara
    Darren Hutchinson
    Carmen Nelson
    Sanjay Singhal
    Dianne VanBeber

     

    Intelsat to Acquire Commercial Aviation Business of Gogo
    Posted:
    31 August 2020

    s

    MCLEAN, Va.--()--Intelsat (OTC: INTEQ), operator of the world’s largest and most advanced satellite fleet and connectivity infrastructure, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the commercial aviation business of Gogo (NASDAQ: GOGO), the largest global provider of in-flight broadband connectivity, for $400 million in cash, subject to customary adjustments.

    The transaction further propels Intelsat’s efforts in the growing commercial in-flight connectivity market, pairing its high-capacity global satellite and ground network with Gogo’s installed base of more than 3,000 commercial aircraft to redefine the connectivity experience.

    Gogo’s leading commercial aviation business provides Intelsat with key airline relationships and customer-facing capabilities, including a leading software platform, ISP and network management infrastructure. It currently serves 21 commercial airlines, including 9 of the top 20 global carriers.

    Click HERE for further details from BusinessWire

     

    Help Us Find These Members
    Posted: 
    28 August 2020

    We have lost contact with these members below.  If you have any information on how to contact them, please send us an EMail at:  info@myiraa.comm

    John Crispin
    Lee Huffman

     

    Welcome New Members
    Posted: August 27, 2020

    We are pleased to Welcome the following new members to the Intelsat Retirees and Alumni Association:

    August 2020

    Yvonne Graham
    Neni Gray
    Javed Hashmi
    Brian Henderson
    Van McDevitt

    Vishnu Sahay
     Herminia Salazar

     

     

    FCC Concludes First Mid-Band 5G Auction
    Posted: 26 August 2020

    By Colin Mann | August 26, 2020

    The US’s FCC has confirmed what it describes as the successful conclusion of bidding in its auction of Priority Access Licenses in the 3550-3650 MHz band for 5G, raising some $4.5 billion, although it has yet to name the successful bidders. The auction made available the greatest number of spectrum licences ever in a single FCC auction. 

    Click HERE for further details from Advanced Television

     

    Intelsat Announces Successful Launch of Galaxy 30 Satellite and Northrop Grumman's
    Second Mission Extension Vehicle

    Posted:
    15 August 2020

    McLean, Va. – August 15, 2020 – Intelsat, operator of the world’s largest integrated satellite and terrestrial network, announced the successful launch of Galaxy 30, a geosynchronous communications satellite that will primarily provide high-performance television distribution service to Intelsat’s North American customers.

    Northrop Grumman’s Mission Extension Vehicle 2 (MEV-2) was part of the same successful launch today. The Intelsat 10-02 satellite is scheduled to be its first customer in early 2021.

    The Northrop Grumman-manufactured Galaxy 30 and MEV-2 launched on the Arianespace Ariane 5 rocket from the Guiana Space Center near Kourou, French Guiana at 6:04 p.m. EDT. Galaxy 30 separated from the rocket at 6:31 p.m. EDT, and Intelsat confirmed its signal acquisition at 7:02 p.m. EDT.

    Galaxy 30 is the first satellite in Intelsat’s Galaxy fleet refresh plan and will replace Galaxy 14 at 125 degrees west once it is in service in early 2021. The Intelsat Galaxy fleet is the most reliable and efficient media content distribution system in North America, offering customers an unmatched penetration of cable head-ends.

    Click HERE for further details from Intelsat

     

     

    Welcome New Members
    Posted: July  17 2020

    We are pleased to Welcome the following new members to the Intelsat Retirees and Alumni Association:

    July 2020

    Patrick Drissel
    Luis F. Gonzalez
     Cecilia Lewis
    Peery B. Lewis (Britt)

     

    C-Band:  SES Wants $1.8bn from Bankrupt Intelsat
    Posted: 15 July 2020

    By Chris Forrester
    July 15, 2020

    SES Americom, the US division of the Luxemburg-based satellite operator, is seeking $1.8 billion (€1.5bn) in damages from Intelsat which is in bankruptcy.

    SES is alleging that Intelsat has breached the contract between the two operators which was agreed to handle the sale of C-band frequencies over the US.

    The SES filing, lodged on July 14th, argues that Intelsat and its subsidiary entities are in violation of that contract and related fiduciary duties related to the C-band consortium agreement.

    SES seeks compensation and punitive damages. It also wants attorney fees and other expenses in relation to arguing the C-band claim and costs relating to litigating the claim.

    Click HERE for further details from Advanced Television

     

    Bankruptcy Court Approves $17M Intelsat Bonus Plan
    Posted: 2 July 2020

    By Rachel Jewett | July 2, 2020

     

    A bankruptcy court has approved Intelsat's request for an employee incentive pan worth $17 million, despite an objection from the U.S. Trustee overseeing the cased.

    The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Richmond Division, approved the bonuses as part of a Key Executive Incentive Plan (KEIP) in cour documents filed June 30.  The incentives are tied to certain targets like meeting Cband clearing deadlines.

    Six executives are eligible to recieve a maximum of $17,087,561.  CEP Stephen Spengler could reeive a maximum amount of $6,974,100.  The other eligible executives are:  CFO David Tolley; General Counsel Michelle Bryan; Chief Services Officer Michael DeMarco; CCO Samar Halawi; and Senior Vice President of Strategy and Planning Bruno Fromont.

    Acting U.S. Trustee Jon Fitzgerald III with the U.S. Department of Justice filed an objection to the bonuses on June 23, aruguing the plan did not set stringent enough performnce goals, and the bonuses are not tied to cash flow and will be paid even if the debtors sustain losses.  The objection pointed to $6.9 million in retention bonuses pointed to $6.9 million in retention bonuses paid to Intelsat executives shortly before the company filed for bankruptcy. CEO Stephen Spengler received $1 million, according to SEC filings.  

    Click HERE for further details from Via Satellite

     

    Intelsat Extends Liquid Telecom Partnership Across Africa
    Posted 29June 2020

    Satellite network operator Intelsat S.A. INTEQ recently announced the extension of its partnership with Liquid Telecom to deliver avant-garde and reliable Internet connectivity in the rural areas of Africa by leveraging its high-throughput satellite fleet. Markedly, the multi-year strategic agreement between the two companies underscores Intelsat’s commitment to provide seamless broadband connectivity for the development of educational institutions and local businesses, thereby strengthening growth of its critical communications infrastructure across the continent.

    Backed by a unique offering of innovative digital services, Liquid Telecom is Africa’s leading communications solutions provider that caters to nearly 13 countries with high-speed connectivity. Further, it offers best-in-class hosting and co-location services to various mobile operators, enterprises and media firms. The company operates state-of-the-art data centers in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Nairobi. It reportedly established Africa’s largest independent fiber network, spanning more than 70,000 kilometers. With leading cloud-based services such as Microsoft Corporation’s MSFT Azure and Office 365, it offers a steady communications infrastructure that prioritizes traffic within Africa to reduce latency.

    Click HERE for further details from Zacks Equity Research

     

    Intelsat, SEC Detail C-Band Transition Plans
    Posted: 22 June 2020

    By Rachel Jewett | June 22, 2020

    Intelsat and SES both filed their C-band spectrum transition plans with the FCC last week on June 19. The operators are working to meet the FCC’s accelerated clearing timeline to clear 100 megahertz of mid-band spectrum for commercial 5G deployment by the end of 2021, and another 180 megahertz two years later. The operators will be eligible to receive incentive payments, in addition to relocation costs, if they clear the spectrum on the FCC’s timeline. Intelsat is eligible to receive $4.87 billion, and SES is eligible to receive $3.97 billion. 

    Intelsat’s plan estimates the total cost of its C-band replacement satellite portion of the transition plan, including launch, insurance, and program management, to be $1.18 billion.

    The operator is planning for the construction and launch of seven new satellites to create sufficient capacity to repack services and effectuate spectrum clearing. Last week, Intelsat announced that Maxar Technologies will build and deliver four satellites, and Northrop Grumman will build and deliver two satellites. The operator is also currently in negotiations with manufacturers for a seventh satellite. 

    Click HERE for further details from ViaSatellite

     

    Intelsat Procures New C-Band Spectrum Transition
    Posted: 15 June 2020

    Contracts in place with U.S. manufacturers Maxar Technologies and Northrop Grumman

    June 15, 2020

    MCLEAN, Va.--()--Intelsat, operator of the world’s largest integrated satellite and terrestrial network, today announced that it has contracted for new satellites with U.S. manufacturers, a necessary step to meet the accelerated C-band spectrum clearing timelines established by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) earlier this year.

    Intelsat has entered into two new agreements; one with Maxar Technologies to build and deliver four satellites, and another with Northrop Grumman to build and deliver two satellites. Intelsat is currently in negotiations with manufacturers for a seventh satellite required to support its C-band transition.

    Later this week, Intelsat plans to file its full C-band spectrum transition plan with the FCC in accordance with the FCC’s revised timeline. The plan will provide additional manufacturing and launch details for new satellites and outline the steps that Intelsat will take to reconfigure its terrestrial-based infrastructure and to ensure a successful transition.

    Click HERE for further details from BusinessWire

     

    Busy Bankruptcy Court for Intesat
    Posted 11 June 2020

    As well as approving a $1 billion ‘debtor in possession’ loan, Intelsat’s bankruptcy court had an extremely busy ‘omnibus’ day on June 9th dealing with dozens of applications and motions.

    The court approved the rate of interest that Intelsat must pay to the lenders Credit Suisse on the $1 billion loan. Intelsat has to pay an immediate 1.5 per cent, and then an expensive 3.6 per cent (the “ticking fee”) per month just like a taxicab fare and designed to encourage Intelsat not to stretch the whole bankruptcy process out too long.

    While the $1 billion loan grabbed the most headlines, the court also agreed a motion that – in essence – permits the sale of Spaceflight Industries, in which Intelsat has a $50 million loan, to Mitsui & Co. Intelsat had made the loan to Spaceflight because it wanted to participate in a Spaceflight subsidiary (BlackSky, which is an Earth observation business). Intelsat still has a “right to purchase” option in Spaceflight/BlackSky.

    Click HERE for further details from Advanced Television

     

    Welcome New Members
    Posted: 10 June  2020

    We are pleased to Welcome the following new members to the Intelsat Retirees and Alumni Association:

    June 2020

    Tom Barr
    Patty Harrison
    Alan Shingler
    Maria Stefanita
     

     

    Investors Accuse Intelsat Insiders of Trading on C-Band News
    Posted: 8 June 2020

    Law360 (June 8, 2020. 5:07 PM EDT) --

    Investors claim major stakeholders in satellite giant Intelsat dodged $185 million in losses by trading on nonpublic information about a Federal Communications Commission plan to publicly auction C-Band spectrum.
     
    Three institutional investors filed suit in California federal court Friday against BC Partners LLP and Silver Lake Group LLC, two investment firms that unloaded $246 million worth of their Intelsat stock on Nov. 5, the same day the FCC allegedly told Intelsat's CEO the agency would not approve Intelsat's proposal for a private sale of the spectrum.
     
    The FCC said Nov. 18 that a public auction would be held instead, meaning that Intelsat would no longer rake in the more than $7 billion it had expected had the private sale gone through and leading it to file for bankruptcy in May, according to the complaint. Two days after the announcement, Intelsat's stock price plunged by nearly 80%, the investors say.
     
    "By offloading significant holdings of Intelsat common stock ahead of the FCC's announcement, BC Partners and Silver Lake, who were also parties to joint shareholding agreements, avoided approximately $185 million in losses," the putative class action alleges. "Their actions constitute blatant violations of their obligation to disclose or abstain from trading and present a classic case of insider trading."
     
    Intelsat, a Luxembourg-based satellite operator that provides television and radio communications, started working with the FCC in 2017 to determine whether it could free up a portion of its coveted 3.7 to 4.2 gigahertz band, or C-Band, for future 5G use, according to the suit.
     
    The company and other satellite operators proposed a private sale process that they would manage and could reap billions of dollars — in a June 2018 report, RBC Capital Markets predicted that a private sale would raise Intelsat's target stock price from $5 to $30, according to the complaint.
     
    On Nov. 5, FCC senior counsel met with Intelsat's CEO to review its proposal for a private auction of some C-Band spectrum, but "based on the conduct of the parties and the timing and sequence of events," it appears the CEO was told the FCC "was unlikely to approve Intelsat's proposal," the suit says.
     
    After the market closed that day, Intelsat's controlling shareholders, BC Partners and Silver Lake, began urgently shopping 10 million Intelsat shares at a price of $24.60 per share, representing a 6% discount on its closing price that day, the suit says. The investors claim the firms instructed their broker to insist that buyers had only an hour to decide whether to purchase.
     
    "The shares were sold the next day to investors who had no idea what had transpired at the November 5, 2019 meeting with the FCC," according to Friday's suit. "To the contrary, they, like the rest of the investing public, had been led to believe that the private sale was on track and when consummated would result in Intelsat receiving more than $7 billion for its share of the spectrum."
     
    BC Partners has representation on Intelsat's board of directors along with an information rights agreement with Intelsat, which Silver Lake also has, providing both stakeholders with "contractually bargained-for access to material, non-public information about Intelsat," the investors allege, including information about the Nov. 5 meeting.
     
    The two stakeholders had also never sold a single share of Intelsat stock until their "fortuitously timed sale of 20% of their total position" after trading closed on Nov. 5, the suit claims.
     
    On Nov. 18, the FCC rejected Intelsat's proposal, and FCC Chairman Ajit Pai appeared to foreclose any future prospects, backing a public rather than private auction of the C-Band spectrum. Intelsat's stock price plunged, wiping out $700 million in market capitalization in two days. On May 14, Intelsat filed for Ch. 11 protection.
     
    The institutional investors are hoping to hold the two firms, along with Intelsat directors and BC Partners principals Raymond Svider and Justin Bateman, liable for the alleged stock drops. Individual investor James Hill also filed a similar suit in the same court back in April.
     
    Silver Lake declined to comment. BC Partners and counsel for the investors did not immediately respond to requests for comment Monday.
     
    The investors are represented by Marc M. Seltzer and Krysta Kauble Pachman of Susman Godfrey LLP and Andrew J. Entwistle of Entwistle & Cappucci LLP.
     
    Counsel information for the investment firms was not available Monday.
     
    The case is FNY Partners Fund LP et al v. BC Partners LLP et al., case number 3:20-cv-03741, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

     

    Intelsat (INTEQ) Reports Q1 Loss, Lags Revenue Estimates
    Posted: 4 June 2020

    Intelsat (INTEQ Free Report) came out with a quarterly loss of $1.48 per share versus the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of $1.37. This compares to loss of $0.87 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.

    This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of -8.03%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this communications and satellite company would post a loss of $0.99 per share when it actually produced a loss of $0.81, delivering a surprise of 18.18%.

    Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates just once.

    Intelsat, which belongs to the Zacks Satellite and Communication industry, posted revenues of $458.82 million for the quarter ended March 2020, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 5.79%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $528.45 million. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates three times over the last four quarters.

    The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call.

    Intelsat shares have lost about 93.5% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's decline of -3.3%.

    Click HERE for further details from Yahoo/Zacks Equity Research

    OTC Markets closed $.5711

     

    C-Band: Eutelsat Complains Over Intelat/SES 'Incentives'
    Posted 3 June 2020

    By Chris Forrester
    June 3, 2020

    Eutelsat, not for the first time, has formally complained to the FCC over the Commission’s ruling that it would pay around $5 billion to both Intelsat and SES in ‘incentive payments’ for clearing certain C-band frequencies over the USA.

    In essence, Eutelsat is fearful that the payments – and the related reimbursements of actual costs of new C-band satellites over the US – will mean that Intelsat and SES will use the cash to expand functionality and coverage beyond a one-for-one simple replacement scheme. Eutelsat says the FCC’s official estimates (aided by analysis by RKF Engineering Solutions) of the costs of these replacement satellites are far too high and thus are more sophisticated satellites than currently being used.

    Both Intelsat and SES are looking to order between four and six satellites to replace the lost frequencies. SES, speaking to Advanced-Television on June 2nd, said that it was still in negotiation on the satellite contracts but it was likely that six satellites would ordered, although two would be ground spares.

    Click HERE for further details from Advanced Television

     

    EXCLUSIVE: Intelsat Shareholders Send Angry Letter Asking for Representation in Bankruptcy Court
    Posted: 28 May 2020

    By Rachel Jewett | May 28, 2020

    Intelsat shareholders are banding together to make sure their interests are represented in the company’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings, according to a letter that was filed with Acting United States Trustee John Fitzgerald III, who monitors the case. 

    Via Satellite obtained a copy of the letter, which was signed by a group of 73 Intelsat shareholders representing 2.3 million shares. In the letter, the shareholders ask Fitzgerald for an equity committee to represent them. The letter details common shareholders’ concerns that they are not being fairly treated by Intelsat management, and as the two largest shareholders, Cyrus Capital Partners and Appaloosa LP, own both equity and debt in the company, they may be willing to accept a deal that will wipe out common shareholders. 

    Intelsat filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on May 13. The shareholder letter was sent in advance of an upcoming court hearing on June 9. 

    Click HERE for further details from Zacks Equity Research

     

    Welcome New Members
    Posted: 26 May 2020

    We are pleased to Welcome the following new members to the Intelsat Retirees and Alumni Association:

    May 2020

    Pasquale Delli Carpini
    Bill Pagden
    Jim Redpath
     

     

    Intelsat Opts into FCC Accelerate C-Band Clearing Plan
    Posted: 26 May 2020

    Company mobilizes operations to accelerate C-band clearing for U.S. 5G

    May 26, 2020 04:23 PM Eastern Daylight Time

    MCLEAN, Va -- (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Intelsat, operator of the worl's largest integrated satellite and terrestrial network, today filed a written commitment with the U.S. Federal Communications Commissin (FCC) to accelerate clearing of the U.S. C-band spectrum.  Intelsat comleted the filing in advance of the FCC's May 29 deadline.

    Click HERE for further details from BusinessWire

    Shares delisted on NYSE on 19 May at $.3826/share

     

    Intelsat (I) Files for Bankruptcy, Aims to Emerge Stronger
    Posted: 15 May 2020

    Intelsat S.A. I has reportedly filed for bankruptcy protection in order to raise cash and prepare the spectrum for public auctioning as it remains weighed down by the huge debt burden. The company expects that Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection funding will enable it to tide over the storm until billions of dollars are made available through public auctioning of its C-band spectrum later this year.

    In concurrence with the bankruptcy filing, Intelsat has earmarked $1 billion in debtor-in-possession financing to sustain operations during the proceedings and make necessary investments to prop up the spectrum for the auction. The company expects to emerge stronger from this financial restructuring process with greater fiscal viability to continue launching new satellites, building a comprehensive ground network and adding innovative services to its portfolio.

    Despite all these endeavors, the stock has plummeted 97.6% in the past year. Notably, Intelsat’s shares declined sharply in November 2019 when investors resorted to panic selling as the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) lent its support to the Congress’ move to hold a public auction for its C-band spectrum. The stock declined 67.1% in 2019, making it the worst performer in the Zacks Satellite and Communication industry.

    Click HERE for further details from Yahoo/Zacks Equity Research

    Shares closed today $.401/share

     

    FCC Plans to Auction C-Band Airwaves Despite Intelsat Bankruptcy
    Posted: 14 May 2020

    by Todd Shields

    (Bloomberg) -- The Federal Communications Commission said it would move forward with an auction of valuable airwaves following the bankruptcy filing of Intelsat SA, which occupies many of the frequencies to be sold.

    Intelsat weighted down by almost $15 billion of debt, filed for bankruptcy protection as part of efforts to raise caseh needed to prepare its spectrum for a U.S. government auction.

    The FCC "will continue to move forward with the C-band auction proces," a spokesman said in an emailed message Thrusday.  The agency "appreciates" Intelsat's statement that a catalyst for its filing is a desire to get ready for the auction, the spokesman said.

    The agency has set a Dec. 8 start date for the airwaves sale.  Preparations must begin months ahead of that time, as current ocupants of the airwaves make room for new wireless users.  Intelsat said it needs to spend more than $1 billion to prepare long before costs are reimbursed.

    With its Chapter 11 filing in Virginia, the Luxembourg-base company said it lined up $1 billion in financing to fund operations during bankruptcy roceedings and make investments required ahead of the auction.

    Click HERE for further details from Bloomberg

     

    Intelsat Undertakes Financial Restructuring to Pave the Way for Future Innovation and Growth
    Posted 14 May 2020

    Strengthened Balance Sheet Will Complement Strong Operating Model

    Process Intended to Enhance Liquidity to Support Accelerated C-Band Clearing and Continued Investment; Expected to Result in a Substantial Reduction of Legacy Debt Burden

    Commitment Obtained for $1 Billion in Debtor-in-Possession Financing

    Service to Customers to Remain at Same Level of Excellence

    • PRESS RELEASE

     

    McLean, VA – May 13, 2020 – Intelsat S.A. (NYSE: I) (“Intelsat” or the “Company”), operator of the world’s largest and most advanced satellite fleet and connectivity infrastructure, today announced that it has undertaken a financial restructuring to position the Company for long-term success. The restructuring process is intended to enhance the Company’s liquidity and will likely result in a substantial reduction of Intelsat’s legacy debt burden, allowing for Intelsat to emerge with a strengthened balance sheet to complement its strong operating model and future growth plans.

    One of the primary catalysts for restructuring the balance sheet now is Intelsat’s desire to participate in the accelerated clearing of C-band spectrum under the Federal Communications Commission order in support of a build-out of 5G wireless infrastructure in the United States. To meet the FCC’s accelerated clearing deadlines and ultimately be eligible to receive $4.87 billion of accelerated relocation payments, Intelsat needs to spend more than $1 billion on clearing activities. These clearing activities must start immediately, long before costs begin to be reimbursed. The Company is also managing the economic slowdown impacting several of its end markets caused by the COVID-19 global health crisis.

    “This is a transformational moment in the history of our company,” said Stephen Spengler, Chief Executive Officer of Intelsat. “Intelsat is the pioneer and foundational architect of the satellite industry. For more than 50 years, we have been respected for quality, innovation, sector leadership, and premium services. Our success has come despite being burdened in recent years by substantial legacy debt. Now is the time to change that. We intend to move forward with the accelerated clearing of C-band spectrum in the United States and to achieve a comprehensive solution that would result in a stronger balance sheet. This will position us to invest and pursue our strategic growth objectives, build on our strengths, and serve the mission-critical needs of our customers with additional resources and wind in our sails.”

    Click HERE for further details from Intelsat

    Shares closed today $.493/share

     

    Intelsat Files for Bankruptcy Protection
    Posted: 14 May 2020

    Darrell Etherington | TechCrunch-May 14, 2020

    Global satellite operator Intelsat has voluntarily filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, the company announced late on Wednesday. Intelsat has attempted to position this as a positive moment that sees it embark on a "financial restructuring" project to enable its future growth, but a bankruptcy filing is seldom cause for celebration.

    The company cites a need to participate in the FCC's C-band spectrum clearing for 5G network build out in the U.S. as one of the factors behind its decision to file, as well as "managing the economic slowdown impacting several of its markets caused by the COVID-19 global heath crise."

    Intelsat notes that its current plan involves no changes to the day-to-day operation of the company, or any reduction in the headcount.  The company also said that it has secured $1 billion in committed new financing, which will come in the form of debtor-in-position funds, subject to court approval.  That just describes any company that plans to continue to operate its business while also undergoing Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings.

     

    Sen. Kennedy: Intelsat Bankruptcy Changes C-Band Compensation Equation
    Posted: 14 May 2020

    Says FCC should reverse its course and keep money for the treasury

    John Eggerton | May 14, 2020

    Satellite services provider Intelsat has announced a "financial restructuring to position [it] for long-term success" at what it called a "transformational moment in the history of our company," or, as Intelsat critic Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) put it: "Intelsat’s decision to file for bankruptcy." 

    On that news, whichever way one looks at it, Kennedy said the FCC should "withdraw its offer, take control of America’s spectrum and save taxpayers billions of dollars instead of shelling out that money to foreign companies." 

    He said the Intelsat filing makes it clear that Intelsat "had no intention of accepting the FCC’s deal." Intelsat in a tweet on the restructuring said its business would continue "without interruption." 

    That "offer" was a reference to the FCC's decision to provide billions of dollars in incentives and auction proceeds to Intelsat and other satellite service providers to give up 300 MHz of spectrum (out of a total of 500 MHz) in the C-Band for 5G. 

    Click HERE for further details from MultiChannel News

     

    Intelsat Files for Chapter 11 Before 5G Spectrum Sales
    Posted: 14 May 2020

    Allison McNeeley and Steven church | Bloomberg May 14, 2020

    (Bloomberg) -- Intelsat SA, the satellite company weighed down by almost $15 billion of debt, filed for bankruptcy protection as part of efforts to raise cash needed to prepare its spectrum for a U.S. government auction.

    With its Chapter 11 filing in Virginia, the Luxembourg-based company said it lined up $1 billion in financing to fund operations during bankruptcy proceedings and make investments required ahead of the auction.

    Under rules set by the Federal Communications Commission, Intelsat may collect $4.86 billion for quickly giving up the so-called C-band spectrum so the airwaves can be used by mobile phone companies to provide 5G services. The satellite company uses the spectrum to beam TV and radio programs to stations, but can give up part of it while still serving customers on frequencies it retains.

    “We intend to move forward with the accelerated clearing of C-band spectrum in the United States and to achieve a comprehensive solution that would result in a stronger balance sheet,” Stephen Spengler, Intelsat CEO, said in the statement.

    Click HERE for further details from Yahoo/Bloomberg

     

    Intelsat Files for Bankruptcy
    Posted: 14 May 2020

    from Seeking Alpha |About: Intelsat S.A. (I) | By: , SA News Editor 

    • Intelsat has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, a move to "position the company for long-term success."

    • As reported, a key catalyst for the move is the company's desire to reap the benefits (a multibillion-dollar payout in particular) of the FCC's clearing C-band spectrum for use in 5G wireless infrastructure.

    • In order to be eligible to receive $4.87B in accelerated relocation payments, the company needs to spend more than $1B on clearing activities, it says. And it's secured a commitment for $1B in debtor-in-possession financing.

    • It's filed first-day motions in order to maintain business-as-usual operations. No changes to operations or workforce are planned.

    • The motions cover Intelsat and certain subsidiaries; Intelsat General (serving U.S. commercial, government, and Allied military customers) is not part of the bankruptcy filing.

    • The company's publishing more detailed information at Intelsatonward.com, and court filings can be found here.

     

    Intelsat Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy
    Posted: 14 May 2020

    Allison McNeeley and Steven church | Bloomberg May 14, 2020

    (Reuters) - Satellite operator Intelsat SA said late on Wednesday that it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, making it the latest casualty of severe business disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The company listed assets and liabilities in the range of $10 billion to $50 billion, according to a filing in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.

    Intelsat also said it had received $1 billion in debtor-in-possession financing.

    The pandemic has inflicted widespread financial pain across sectors including retail and aviation, with many companies considering bankruptcy options as a way to restructure their debt load.

    The company's Chapter 11 filing comes more than a month after it suspended its 2020 outlook and said it would delay filing its first-quarter results.

    Click HERE for further details from Yahoo/Reuters

     

    Chapter 11 Filing Gives Intelsat Leverage in C-Band Auction
    Posted: 14 May 2020

    By Mark Holmes Rachel Jewett | May 14, 2020

    Intelsat has positioned its filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as a move that will give the company liquidity to support clearing the C-band spectrum — but it’s possible that bankruptcy proceedings could put the auction at risk. 

    Intelsat and some of its subsidiaries filed on Wednesday in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Richmond Division. Intelsat, which operates a fleet of about 50 satellites, had approximately $14.7 billion principal in outstanding third party debt at the end of 2019, according to the company’s most recent 10-K filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. 

    The company’s upbeat “Intelsat Onward” announcement made clear that its desire to receive accelerated relocation payments for clearing C-band spectrum was a factor in filing. Intelsat is eligible to receive the largest share, $4.87 billion, about half of the total payments. Intelsat said it needs to spend more than $1 billion on clearing activities, which must start immediately, and costs will not be reimbursed until later.

    Click HERE for further details from Via Satellite

     

    Intelsat -9% on Report Bankruptcy Could Come Tonight
    Posted: 13 May 2020

    from Seeking Alpha |About: Intelsat S.A. (I) | By: , SA News Editor 

    • Intelsat (NYSE:I) has made a sudden leg down, now -9%, following headlines from Reorg that the company may file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy as soon as tonight.

    • Bonds have been slipping toward record lows as it nears the expiraton of a 30-day grace period on some of its debt.  It had skipped April 15 interest payments on some debt. .

    • And by yesterday, its Luxembourg 8.125% notes due 2023 fell to 6 cents on the dollar

    • Ahead of the April 15 deadline, JPMorgan was reportedly shopping a debtor-in-possession loan for the company.

    • Intelsat needs fund to partake in the multibillion-dollar windfall of a public midband spectrum safe, but lenders may be wary of providing that outside of bankruptcy.

    Shares closed today $.7881/share

     

    Intelsat and Andesat Bring Mobile Broadband to Rural Communities in Peru
    Posted: 12 May 2020

    Andesat Perus launches "#TeConectamosPeru" to expand life-changing cellular and internet coverage to remote areas of Latin America

    CORAL GABLES, Fla. & LIMA, Peru (()--Intelsat (NYSE: I) and Andesat are parterning to bring end-to-end mobile broadband (3G) service to remote communities across Peru.  The two companies have develope a new model that will quickly and efficiently bring life-changing 3G access to 154 rural Peruvian communities in 2020, and as many as 400 remote sites in Peru over the next 18 months.

    Click HERE for further details from BusinessWire

    Shares closed today $.9612/share

     

    Shareholder Urges Intelsat to Void Defaulting into Bankruptcy
    Posted:
    5 May 2020

    by Caleb Henry - May 5 2020

    WASHINGTON — A shareholder is urging Intelsat’s leadership to quickly make an overdue debt payment to avoid potentially falling into bankruptcy. 

    Cyrus Capital Partners, a $4 billion investment advisory firm with offices in New York and London, said Intelsat appears to be headed for a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing after it skipped a $125 million interest payment due April 15. 

    The skipped payment triggered a 30-day grace period for Intelsat to complete the payment before defaulting. Intelsat’s subsidiary Intelsat Jackson, which holds the majority of the operator’s $14.7 billion debt, owes the late interest payment. 

    In a letter released May 5, Cyrus Capital said an Intelsat bankruptcy could severely jeopardize the satellite operator’s ability to collect up to $4.86 billion in FCC incentive payments for the rapid clearing of 300 megahertz of C-band spectrum Intelsat uses mainly for television broadcasting in the United States. 

    Intelsat has until May 29 to decide whether it will participate in the FCC’s accelerated spectrum clearing program. A different Intelsat shareholder, Appaloosa of Short Hills, New Jersey, urged the company in February to press the FCC for a higher amount even if it means Intelsat going into bankruptcy. 

    Click HERE for further details from Spacenews

    Shares closed today $1.09/share

     

    Global Services Sues FCC Over C-Band Order
    Posted: 5 May 2020

    by Rachel Jewett - May, 2020

    PSSI Global Services is suing the FCC over its plan to reallocate the C-band spectrum for 5G services, arguing the order approved in February will “destroy” its special event satellite broadcast transmission services. The suit was filed April 28 in D.C. federal court. 

    PSSI operates a fleet of more than 60 C-band and Ku-band vehicles and provides live event transmission, distribution and programming insert reception, including global satellite communication services. The company said that its Occasional Use (OU) services for events like the Academy Awards and the NFL Super Bowl are particularly in jeopardy. OU services use transportable earth stations, which require satellite Line-of-Sight (LOS) access and transponder frequency clearance to connect with a particular satellite and transponder.

    Click HERE for further details from Via Satellite

     

    Were Hedge Funds Right About Intelsat S.A. (I)?
    Posted: 4 May 2020

    Asma UL Husna, Insider Monkey May 4 2020

    We hate to say this but, we told you so. On February 27th we published an article with the title Recession is Imminent: We Need A Travel Ban NOW and predicted a US recession when the S&P 500 Index was trading at the 3150 level. We also told you to short the market and buy long-term Treasury bonds. Our article also called for a total international travel ban. While we were warning you, President Trump minimized the threat and failed to act promptly. As a result of his inaction, we will now experience a deeper recession (see why hell is coming).

    In these volatile markets we scrutinize hedge fund filings to get a reading on which direction each stock might be going. Our extensive research has shown that imitating the smart money can generate significant returns for retail investors, which is why we track nearly 835 active prominent money managers and analyze their quarterly 13F filings. The stocks that are heavily bought by hedge funds historically outperformed the market, though there is no shortage of high profile failures like hedge funds' 2018 losses in Facebook and Apple. Let's take a closer look at what the funds we track think about Intelsat S.A. (NYSE: I) in this article.

    Intelsat S.A. (NYSE:I) shares haven't seen a s of action during the fourth quarter. Overall, hedge fund sentiment was unchanged. The stock was in 49 hedge funds' portfolios at the end of the fourth quarter of 2019. The level and the change in hedge fund popularity aren't the only variables you need to analyze to decipher hedge funds' perspectives. A stock may witness a boost in popularity but it may still be less popular than similarly priced stocks. That's why at the end of this article we will examine companies such as Third Pont Reinsurance Ltd (NYSE: TPRE), Hollysys Automation Technologies Ltd (NASDAQ: HOLI), and Urstadt Biddle Properties Inc (NYSE: UBA) to gather more data points. Our calculations also showed that I isn't among the 30 most popular stocks among hedge funds (click for Q4 rankings and see the video at the end of this article for Q3 rankings).   

    Click HERE for further details from Yahoo/InsiderMonkey

    Shares closed today $1.13/share

     

    Intelsat Announces New Investor Relations Vice-President
    Posted:
    30 April 2020

    Industry veteran brings expertise in cultivating strong relationships with investment community

    Intelsat (NYSE: I), operator of the world's largest integrated satellite and terrestrial network, today announced that Tahmin O. Clarke has joined the company as Vice President of Investor Relations.

    Based in the company’s McLean, Va. office, Clarke is responsible for managing the company’s relationships with shareholders, bondholders and lenders, and the equity and fixed income research analyst community. He will report to Intelsat Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer David M. Tolley.

    "Tahmin’s financial acumen and deep expertise in leading investor communications in the communications sector will serve as a tremendous asset to us, especially during this time of industry transition as we evaluate our future opportunities," said Tolley. "He brings a deep understanding of the complexities of our sector and a reputation for proactive relationship-building and stakeholder communications. We’re thrilled to welcome him to the Intelsat family."

    Click HERE for further details from BusinessWire

    Shares closed today $1.92/share

     

    Intelsat CEO Steve Spangler Talks C-Band, Covid, and Chapter 11
    Posted: 28 April 2020

     Click HERE for the interview by Mark Holmes of Via Satellite

     

    Welcome New Members
    Posted: 23 April 2020

    We are pleased to Welcome the following new members to the Intelsat Retirees and Alumni Association:

    April 2020

    Lizbeth Fountain
    Ivette Fournier

    Michael Hughes

     

    For the First Time Ever, a Robotic Spacecraft Caught an Old Satellite and Extended Its Life
    Posted:
    17 April 2020

    Published FRI APR 17 2020-9:18 AM EDT
    Michael Sheetz @THESHEETZTWEETZ

    Intelsat's IS-901 satellite is nearly 20 years old, and well beyond its expected lifespan, but a small spacecraft built by Northrop Grumman succeeded in docking with the satellite and giving it another five years of service, the companies announced on Friday.

    The feat is a space industry first, as extending the life of spacecraft already in orbit has only been done with human help before – such as the Hubble telescope servicing missions conducted by NASA astronauts.

    Northrop Grumman’s spacecraft MEV-1 successfully docked with IS-901 on Feb. 25. Intelsat’s satellite was launched in June 2001 and was only intended to serve for 13 years, providing communications services in the Atlantic Ocean region. The satellite is in a fixed position above the Earth in what is known as geosynchronous orbit – tens of thousands of miles up to provide as wide a coverage area as effectively possible.

    Click HERE for further details from CNN

    Shares closed today $1.36/share

     

    Intelsat Seeks Bankruptcy Protection Fund for Sustainability
    Posted: 15 April 2020

    Intelsat S.A. I is reportedly seeking the cushion of a bankruptcy loan to sustain operations as its shares continue a steady downtrend. The company expects that Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection funding will enable it to tide over the storm until billions of dollars are made available through public auctioning of its C-band spectrum later this year.  

    Intelsat’s shares declined sharply in November 2019 when investors resorted to panic selling as the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) lent its support to the Congress’ move to hold a public auction for its C-band spectrum. The stock declined 67.1% in 2019, making it the worst performer in the Zacks Satellite and Communication industry.

    Click HERE for further details from Yahoo/Zacks Equity Research

    Shares closed today $1.04/share

     

    Why Intelsat's 5G Dreams Are Crashing to Earth
    Posted 14 April
    2020

    By Aaron Pressman
    April 14, 2020, 2:30 PM EDT
     
    Satellite communications cmpany Intelat is close to bankrptcy after a years-long gambit to profit from selling some of its airwave licenses for 5G wireless networks has fallen short.
     
    The company, responsible for transmitting most programming for cable and broadcast netorks acros the country ith its satellites, is lining up financing known as a debtor-in-possession loan, used to maintain operations during a Chapter 11 bankruptcy, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday.  The company had earlier hired investment bank PJT Partners and law firm Kirkland & Ellis for a possible filing, Bloomberg noted.
     
    The rapid financial demis comes after the Federal Communications Commission rejected a plan from Intelsat and other satellite communications companies to et them directly sell spectrum know as the C-band to wireless carriers that could use the airwaves for 5G networks.  Analysts said such a sale could bring $30 billion to $50 billion in bids from telecom companies desperate for more airwaves to use for superfast 5G service.
     
    But the plan ignited heated and bipartisan opposition in Congress to letting foreign-based satellite companies collect such huge sums.  among current C-band holders, Intelsat and SES are legally based in Luxembourg, Telesat is Canadian, and Eutelsat Communications is based in France.

    Click HERE for further details from Fortune

    Shares closed today $1.10/share

     

    Intelsat Seeks Bankruptcy Loan While Awaiting Key Spectrum Sale
    Posted 14 April
    2020

    By Katherine Doherty, Sridhar Natarajan, and Allison McNeely
    April 13, 2020, 9:15 PM EDt Updated on April 14, 2020, 10:02 AM EDT

    Intelsat SA is seeking backers for a bankruptcy loan that would keep the satellite service in business under Chapter 11 court protection while it’s waiting for billions of dollars in proceeds from a government spectrum auction. Its bonds led decliners in the high-yield market.

    JPMorgan Chase & Co. is shopping the debtor-in-possession loan to institutional investors, many of whom specialize in financial restructuring, according to people with knowledge of the plans. The loan of about $750 million would help fund necessary improvements to Intelsat’s spectrum ahead of the C-Band auction set to begin later this year.

    No formal decisions have been made on the loan, said one of the people. The situation remains fluid and plans could change, depending on market conditions, the people said. They asked not to be identified discussing the private arrangements.

    The company’s bonds fell Tuesday, with its 8.5% notes due 2024 dropping 4.8 cents on the dollar to 56.9 cents, according to Trace data.

    Click HERE for further details from Bloomberg

     

    Are Options Traders Betting on a Big Move in Intelsat (I) Stock?
    Posted:
    27 March 2020

    Investors in Intelsat S.A. I need to pay close attention to the stock based on moves in the options market lately. That is because the Jun 19, 2020 $3.00 Call had some of the highest implied volatility of all equity options today.  

    What is Implied Volatility?

    Implied volatility shows how much movement the market is expecting in the future. Options with high levels of implied volatility suggest that investors in the underlying stocks are expecting a big move in one direction or the other. It could also mean there is an event coming up soon that may cause a big rally or a huge sell-off. However, implied volatility is only one piece of the puzzle when putting together an options trading strategy.

    What do the Analysts Think?

    Clearly, options traders are pricing in a big move for Intelsat shares, but what is the fundamental picture for the company? Currently Intelsat is a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) in the Satellite and Communication industry that ranks in the Top 31% of our Zacks Industry Rank. Over the last 60 days, no analysts have increased their earnings estimates for the current quarter, while one analyst has revised the estimate downward. The net effect has taken our Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current quarter from a loss of $1.31 per share to a loss of $1.13 in that period.

    Click HERE for further details from Yahoo/Zacks Equity Research

    Shares closed today $1.76/share

     

    Intlesat (I) Flat as Market Gains: What You Should Know
    Posted: 26 March
    2020

    In the latest trading session, Intelsat (I) closed at $1.92, marking no change from the previous day. This change lagged the S&P 500's 6.24% gain on the day. Elsewhere, the Dow gained 6.38%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq added 5.6%.

    Heading into today, shares of the communications and satellite company had lost 55.56% over the past month, lagging the Computer and Technology sector's loss of 17.19% and the S&P 500's loss of 21.22% in that time.

    Wall Street will be looking for positivity from I as it approaches its next earnings report date. The company is expected to report EPS of -$1.13, down 29.89% from the prior-year quarter. Meanwhile, our latest consensus estimate is calling for revenue of $488.36 million, down 7.59% from the prior-year quarter.

    Click HERE for further details from Yahoo/Zacks Equity Research

    Shares closed today $1.92/share

     

    Intelsat (I) Down 54.6% Since Last Earnings Report: Can it Rebound?
    Posted: 21 March 2020

    It has been about a month since the last earnings report for Intelsat (I). Shares have lost about 54.6% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500.

    Will the recent negative trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Intelsat due for a breakout? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at the most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important catalysts.

    Intelsat Q4 Loss Narrower Than Expected, Revenues Fall

    Intelsat reported relatively modest fourth-quarter 2019 results with both the top and bottom line exceeding the respective Zacks Consensus Estimate. However, revenues were down year over year as media revenues declined due to the increasing importance of digital platforms content.       

    Click HERE for further details from Yahoo/Zacks Equity Research

     

    Intelsat (I) Collaborating with SpaceX for IS-40e Launch
    Posted 18 March
    2020

    After the launch of Intelsat S.A.’s I 35e geostationary communications satellite (COMSAT), the pioneer of space technology services is all set to launch another high-throughput satellite into the space — Intelsat 40e (IS-40e). Equipped with best-in-class capabilities of managed hybrid-connectivity, Intelsat has teamed up with a space transportation services company — SpaceX — for the launch.

    Slated to be launched in 2022, IS-40e will be manufactured by a leading space technology company — Maxar Technologies Inc. MAXR. Markedly, the yet-to-be-launched Intelsat satellite will be sent to its target orbit by SpaceX’s much-acclaimed Falcon 9 launch vehicle. Interestingly, this will be SpaceX’s second launch for Intelsat, the first one being Intelsat 35e in 2017.

    Click HERE for further details from Yahoo/Zacks Equity Research

    Shares closed today $1.625/share

     

    Welcome New Member
    Posted: 15 March 2020

    We are pleased to Welcome the following new member to the Intelsat Retirees and Alumni Association:

    March 2020

    Patrick Yeung

     

    Implied Volatility Surfing for Intelsat (I) Stock Options
    Posted:
    4 March 2020

     — March 4,

    WASHINGTON — The FCC says it will scrap a $9.7 billion spectrum clearing incentive package approved last week if Intelsat and SES don’t both agree to the terms. 

    Satellite operators Intelsat, SES, Eutelsat, Telesat and Embratel Star One are eligible collectively to win up to $9.7 billion in accelerated payments if they can clear 300 megahertz of C-band spectrum by Dec. 5, 2023 — two years faster than the FCC’s deadline.

    But according to a final plan the FCC released March 3, companies eligible for at least 80% of the accelerated clearing payments must participate in order for the program to proceed.

    Eutelsat, Telesat and Embratel Star One only account for 9% of the accelerated clearing payments, meaning the FCC’s threshold requires Intelsat and SES involvement. 

    Payment allocations set

    The FCC is offering the $9.7 billion in accelerated clearing payments to encourage satellite operators to vacate 300 megahertz of C-band spectrum more quickly to make way for cellular networks’ 5G services. The clearing payments are in addition to relocation costs, estimated at up to $5.2 billion in the FCC’s plan. Relocation costs include buying new spacecraft, satellite dishes and other equipment to continue offering service with less spectrum. 

    Intelsat is eligible for $4.87 billion in accelerated clearing payments, up $13.6 million from the FCC’s original plan, but a far cry from the $5.8 billion to $6.5 billion the company sought in recent weeks. 

    Click HERE for further details from SpaceNews

    Shares closed today $3.12/share

     

    FCC Releases Final C-Band Offer
    Posted: 4 March
    2020

    The FCC released its final report and order on repurposing C-band spectrum for 5G on Tuesday, slightly shifting the amounts that satellite operators can receive in accelerated relocation payments to clear the spectrum quickly. 

    The document was released after the FCC voted 3-5 on Feb. 28 to repurpose the spectrum. Satellite operators are required to clear the spectrum, and the FCC will hold a public auction for licenses to that spectrum, starting Dec. 8 of this year. Satellite operators with licenses for the spectrum will receive both compensation for the cost to relocate the spectrum and accelerated relocation payments to incentivize them to clear the spectrum quickly, $9.7 billion total, divided between IntelsatSESTelesatEutelsat, and Star One. 

    Click HERE for further details from Via Satellite

     

    FCC Approves $9.7 Billion Package to Speed C-Ban Clearing
    Posted:
    28 February 2020

     — 

    WASHINGTON — The U.S. Federal Communications Commission on Feb. 28 voted to auction a large portion of C-band in December under a plan that includes $9.7 billion in incentives to expedite relocating satellite operators out of the spectrum to make way for high-speed 5G networks. 

    The agency’s five commissioners voted three to two in favor of the plan, released three weeks ago, despite worries that the plan will trigger litigation from disaffected companies or a rebuke from Congress where lawmakers had sought to legislatively prescribe the auction rules. 

    Central to the debate was whether the $9.7 billion in payments to encourage satellite operators to fully vacate the spectrum two years faster — in 2023 instead of 2025 — was appropriate, or legal. 

    Click HERE for further details from SPACENEWS.

    Shares closed today $3.86/share

     

    Intelsat Still Burdened with Debit Even if FCC Boosts Payout
    Posted:
    28 February 2020

    By Todd Shields
    Februrary 28, 2020,
    4:00 AM EST

    Satellite provider Intelsat SA will still face a steep pile of debt even if it wins bigger payouts for giving up spectrum in a vote Friday by U.S. regulators that want the frequencies for fast 5G mobile networks.  The Federal Communications Commission is scheduled to vote on Chairman Ajit Pai’s plan to pay satellite providers as much as $9.7 billion for leaving the airwaves, with 50% of that, or $4.85 billion, potentially going to Intelsat.  Luxembourg-based Intelsat in a filing asked for 60% or more of the pot. Fellow satellite provider SES SA, which also would give up airwaves, in a filing said it should get as much as Intelsat, compared with 41% as proposed by the FCC.  Intelsat’s finances “may remain stressed even with a large relocation payment” because core portions of its business are deteriorating, Stephen Flynn, a Bloomberg Intelligence analyst, said in a Feb. 27 note. Earnings may decline next year, as some customers flee and others renew contracts at lower rates, Flynn said.

    Click HERE for further details from Bloomberg

     

    Implied Volatility Surfing for Intelsat (I) Stock Options
    Posted: 27
    February 2020

    Investors in Intelsat S.A. I need to pay close attention to the stock based on moves in the options market lately. That is because the Mar 20, 2020 $5.00 Call had some of the highest implied volatility of all equity options today.

    What is Implied Volatility?

    Implied volatility shows how much movement the market is expecting in the future. Options with high levels of implied volatility suggest that investors in the underlying stocks are expecting a big move in one direction or the other. It could also mean there is an event coming up soon that may cause a big rally or a huge sell-off. However, implied volatility is only one piece of the puzzle when putting together an options trading strategy.

    What do the Analysts Think?

    Clearly, options traders are pricing in a big move for Intelsat shares, but what is the fundamental picture for the company? Currently, Intelsat is a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) in Satellite and Communication industry that ranks in the Top 44% of our Zacks Industry Rank. Over the last 60 days, no analysts have increased their earnings estimates for the current quarter, while one analyst has revised the estimate downward. The net effect has taken our Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current quarter from a loss of $1.31 per share to a loss of $1.10 in that period.

    Click HERE for further details from Zacks Market Equity Research

    Shares closed today $4.06/share

     

    Telesat Sides with SES Against Intelsat's Request for More C-Band Money
    Posted: 27 February 2020

    by  — 

    WASHINGTON — Telesat and SES are urging the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to reject Intelsat’s request for a larger share of the $9.7 billion in incentive payments the FCC plans to offer satellite operators to hasten the clearing of C-band spectrum the United States wants to repurpose for 5G cellular networks.

    The FCC plans to use proceeds from an upcoming C-band auction to incentivize satellite operators to vacate the spectrum two years ahead of a 2025 deadline. Auction proceeds would also be used to reimburse the cost of new satellites and ground systems the operators will need to keep serving C-band customers while yielding 300 megahertz spectrum to companies building out U.S. 5G networks.

    Under a proposal the FCC released Feb. 7, Intelsat would be entitled to the largest share of incentive payments. Intelsat has since asked the FCC to increase its potential $4.85 billion share of the $9.7 billion to at least $5.8 billion, arguing that a 60-67% share is more in line with how much work Intelsat needs to do to clear its swath of C-band by the end of 2023.

    Click HERE for further details from SPACENEWS.

     

    Northrup Grumman Successfully Completes Historic First Docking of Mission Extension Vehicle with Intelsat 901 Satellite
    Posted: 26 February 2020

    Companies demonstrate groundbreaking satellite life-extension service

    DULLES, Va. – Feb. 26, 2020 – Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) and the company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, SpaceLogistics LLC, have successfully completed the first docking of the Mission Extension Vehicle-1 (MEV-1) to the Intelsat 901 (IS-901) spacecraft in order to provide life-extension services. This historic accomplishment marks the first time two commercial satellites have docked in orbit and the first time that mission extension services will be offered to a satellite in geosynchronous orbit.

    MEV-1, launched Oct. 9, 2019, recently completed its orbit raising to an orbit approximately 180 miles above geosynchronous orbit. IS-901 is a fully operational communication satellite that is running low on fuel. Intelsat (NYSE: I) removed 901 from service in December 2019, transferring customers to other satellites in its extensive fleet, in order to raise its orbit to the same altitude as MEV-1 in preparation for docking. MEV-1 then completed the historic docking with IS-901 on February 25 at 2:15 a.m. ET. The combined spacecraft stack will now perform on-orbit checkouts before MEV-1 begins relocating the combined vehicle to return IS-901 into service in early April.

    “Our Mission Extension Vehicle provides an innovative, satellite life extension service,” said Tom Wilson, president, SpaceLogistics LLC. “Together, Northrop Grumman, SpaceLogistics LLC and Intelsat have taken the first step in pioneering in-space logistics services for both commercial and government customers.”

    Click HERE for further details from Intlesat.

    Stocks closed today at $4.32/share

     

    SES and Eutelsat Make Their Own Cases for More C-Band Money
    Posted:
    24 February 2020

    by  — 

    WASHINGTON — SES is now arguing that it deserves as much money as Intelsat to clear C-band satellite spectrum for 5G cellular networks, following Intelsat’s solo effort last week to increase its share of the FCC’s $9.7 billion fund. 

    Meanwhile, Eutelsat, a former partner of Intelsat, SES and Telesat in the now fractured C-Band Alliance, is seeking around $1 billion more for itself. 

    The FCC is scheduled to vote Feb. 28 on a plan that includes $9.7 billion to accelerate spectrum clearing by September 2023 instead of 2025 and that covers new satellites and other infrastructure needed to continue services with less spectrum. The total amount for both is around $14.9 billion, though the final tally could be higher. The FCC cautioned that its $3.3 billion to $5.2 billion price tag for replacement infrastructure is just an estimate. 

    Click HERE for further details from SPACENEWS.

    Stocks closed today at $4.62/share

     

    There's a 5G Showdown Brewing.  Intelsat Stock Could be a Casualty
    Posted:
    21 February 2020

    Shares of Intelsat S.A. shot up 9.6% in midday trading Thursday, paring earlier gains of as much as 19%, after the Luxembourg-based communications satellite reported before the open a narrower-than-expected loss and revenue that fell less than forecast. The net loss was $115.0 million, or 81 cents a share, after a loss of $111.3 million, or 81 cents a share, in the year-ago period. The FactSet consensus was for a net loss per share of 94 cents. Revenue fell 4.8% to $517.0 million, above the FactSet consensus of $500.9 million. Network services revenue fell 1% to $200.2 million, media revenue declined 9% to $210.6 million and government revenue fell 2% to $96.0 million. For 2020, the company expects revenue of $1.93 billion to $1.98 billion, compared with the FactSet consensus of $1.98 billion. The stock, which has now bounced 42% since it closed at a 2-year low of $3.10 on Feb. 14, has still plunged 38.3% over the past three months through Wednesday, while the S&P 500 has gained 7.9%.

    Click HERE for further details from Yahoo/MarketWatch.

    Stocks closed today $4.49/share

     

    Intelsat (I) Q4 Loss Narrower Than Expected, Revenues Fall
    Posted: 21 February 2020

    Intelsat S.A. I reported relatively modest fourth-quarter 2019 results with both the top and bottom line exceeding the respective Zacks Consensus Estimate. However, revenues were down year over year as media revenues declined due to the increasing importance of digital platforms content.       

    Net Loss

    On GAAP basis, net loss for the reported quarter was $114.9 million or loss of 81 cents per share compared with loss of $111.3 million or loss of 81 cents per share in the prior-year quarter. The wider net loss was primarily due to lower revenues and higher operating expenses. Net loss per share was, however, narrower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of loss of 99 cents.

    In 2019, Intelsat recorded net loss of $913.6 million or loss of $6.51 per share compared with loss of $599.6 million or loss of $4.63 per share in 2018.

    Click HERE for further details from Yahoo/Zacks Equity Research

     

    Intelsat to FCC:  C-Band Alliance is Dead, We Deserve More Money?
    Posted:
    20 February 2020

    WASHINGTON -- Intelsat on Feb. 19 urged the FCC to give the company at least $1 billion more of $9.7 billion in proposed compensation for clearning C-band spectrum for 5G networks and to treat the C-Band Alliance Intelsat formed with rivals SES and Telesat as esentially dead.

    Intelsat said it has more C-band revenue, capacity use and satellite dishes in operation across the continental United States than any other operator, and that it therefore deserves $5.8 billion to $6.5 billion in accelerated clearing payments instead of the $4.85 billion offered under the U.S. Federal Communications Commission’s proposed plan. 

    The company’s solo gambit, which earned a sharp rebuke from SES and approval from investors, followed one day after hedge fund Appaloosa of Short Hills, New Jersey, took a 7.4% stake in Intelsat for the express purpose of compelling the company to demand more clearing payments from the FCC.

    Click HERE for further details from SPACENEWS.

    Shares closed today $4.54/share

     

    Intelsat Rift with SES Goes All 'Hunger Games' Before FCC Vote
    Posted: 20 February 2020

    (Bloomberg) -- Intelsat SA and SES SA , which had been allies in plans to give up satellite airwaves, broke into a feud a week before the U.S. Federal Communications Commission is scheduled to vote on a plan to compensate the companies.

    Intelsat said in a filing with the agency that it believes it should get a greater share of payments than the FCC has proposed. SES responded by calling it an “egregious attempt” that was “both disappointing and legally indefensible.”

    The dispute has “all gone a bit ‘Hunger Games,”’ Jefferies analyst Giles Thorne said in a note to clients, as “one-time colleagues turn on each other.”

    Intelsat rose as much as 19% in New York trading after reporting fourth-quarter sales that exceeded analyst expectations.

    The satellite companies have proposed giving up part of the airwaves they use to beam TV and radio programs to stations, and to continue serving customers on airwaves they retain. The swath at issue is known as the C-band, and regulators are eager to free it to carry traffic for fast new 5G networks.

    Click HERE for further details from Bloomberg

     

     

    Intsat's Stock Soars After Net Loss, Revenue Beat Expectations
    Posted:
    20 February 2020

    Shares of Intelsat S.A. shot up 9.6% in midday trading Thursday, paring earlier gains of as much as 19%, after the Luxembourg-based communications satellite reported before the open a narrower-than-expected loss and revenue that fell less than forecast. The net loss was $115.0 million, or 81 cents a share, after a loss of $111.3 million, or 81 cents a share, in the year-ago period. The FactSet consensus was for a net loss per share of 94 cents. Revenue fell 4.8% to $517.0 million, above the FactSet consensus of $500.9 million. Network services revenue fell 1% to $200.2 million, media revenue declined 9% to $210.6 million and government revenue fell 2% to $96.0 million. For 2020, the company expects revenue of $1.93 billion to $1.98 billion, compared with the FactSet consensus of $1.98 billion. The stock, which has now bounced 42% since it closed at a 2-year low of $3.10 on Feb. 14, has still plunged 38.3% over the past three months through Wednesday, while the S&P 500 has gained 7.9%.

    Click HERE for further details from Yahoo/MarketWatch.

     

    Intelsat (I) Reports Q4 Loss, Tops Revenue Estimates
    Posted:
    20 February 2020

    Intelsat (I) came out with a quarterly loss of $0.81 per share versus the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of $0.99. This compares to loss of $0.91 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.

    This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of 18.18%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this communications and satellite company would post a loss of $1 per share when it actually produced a loss of $1.05, delivering a surprise of -5%.

    Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates just once.

    Intelsat, which belongs to the Zacks Satellite and Communication industry, posted revenues of $516.95 million for the quarter ended December 2019, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 3.60%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $542.77 million. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates three times over the last four quarters.

    Click HERE for further details from Yahoo/Zacks Equity Research

     

    Intelsat Announces Fourth Quarter and Full-Year 2019 Results
    Posted: 20 February 2020

    • Fourth quarter revenue of $517 million; full-year 2019 revenue of $2,061 million
    • Fourth quarter net loss attributable to Intelsat S.A. of $115 million; full-year 2019 net loss attributable to Intelsat S.A. of $914 million
    • Fourth quarter Adjusted EBITDA of $371 million or 72 percent of revenue; full-year 2019 Adjusted EBITDA of $1,481 million or 72 percent of revenue
    • Intelsat issues 2020 Guidance

     Intelsat S.A. (NYSE: I), today announced financial results for the three months and full-year ended December 31, 2019.

    Intelsat reported total revenue of $517.0 million and net loss attributable to Intelsat S.A. of $115.0 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019. For the year ended December 31, 2019, Intelsat reported total revenue of $2,061.5 million and net loss attributable to Intelsat S.A. of $913.6 million.

    Click HERE for further details from Yahoo Finance/Business Wire.

     

    Can David Tepper Aid Intelsat (I) to Rebound from 2-Year Low?
    Posted:
    19 February 2020

    Intelsat S.A.’s I shares soared 25.8% yesterday as Appaloosa Management, the hedge fund firm overseen by famed billionaire investor David Tepper, announced that it has acquired 2.9 million shares of the satellite and communication services provider. This is likely to offer significant boost to the beleaguered company that tanked 83.8% in the past year and recorded an abysmal low of $2.61 on Feb 5, 2020.

    What Triggered the Plunge?

    Intelsat shares declined sharply in November last year when investors resorted to panic selling as the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) lent its support to the Congress’ move to hold public auction for its C-band spectrum. The stock declined 67.1% in 2019, making it the worst performer in the Zacks Satellite and Communication industry.

    Click HERE for further details from Yahoo/Zacks Equity Research

    Shares closed today $4.01/share

     

    Intelsat Revises IS-29e Replacement Plan, Preps Second-Gen Epic Order
    Posted:
    17 February 2020

    WASHINGTON -- Intelsat has abandoned plans to order a one-for-one replacement for the Intelsat-29e satellite that failed last year and will rely instead on leased capacity, a borrowed satellite, and the newly ordred Intelsat-40e spacecraft to fill a overage gap over North and South America.

    Intelsat said last summer it intended to award a contract by the end of 2019 for a direct replacement for the three-year-old Intelsat-29e satellite. The global satellite fleet operator now says the Intelsat-40e satellite recently ordered from Maxar Technologies will serve as a partial replacement for IS-29e. The rest of the gap will be covered by a borrowed Hispasat satellite and capacity leased from competitor SES and other satellite operators.

    Intelsat-29e was the first Epic-series high-throughput satellite in Intelsat’s fleet, and carried 10 times the capacity of earlier satellites. Its mission came to an abrupt end in April when it suffered a catastrophic fuel leak Intelsat still believes was caused by a micrometeoroid impact or an ill-timed electrostatic discharge triggered by unfavorable solar weather. 

    Click HERE for further details from SPACENEWS.

     

    Forrester Reports: February 21 is D-Day for the FCC's C-Band Decisions
    Posted: 13 February 2020

    Chris Forrester at the Advanced Television infosite is reporting that the FCC’s order on its $9.7 billion proposal will be determined on February 28, with a D-Day meeting of the full Commission.

    Prior to that assemblage, the participants and stakeholders have until February 21 to make their comments. There will be an enforced ‘quiet period’ between the 21st and 28th of the month.

    Meanwhile, the three main participants will hold their results announcements (Eutelsat on February 14, Intelsat on February 18 and SES on February 25), where some fresh newsflow might be generated. The key players are near-silent other than to stress that hard work is going on behind the scenes.

    SES, for example, repeated their comments from a week ago,  and stated, "We are overall pleased with the draft order and thank the FCC for their work. Some elements of the draft order require more discussions with the FCC. This includes, for example, technical parameters, deadlines for clearing, penalties for late clearing or timing of fund availability.”

    Intelsat also seems relaxed enough other than to say that due diligence is absolutely necessary and that – as ever – the devil is in the detail. “Each company—including C-band customers—has to read what is proposed and determine if the terms stated for the transition are set up so that we can ensure we can be successful, and as importantly, not impede the services that we continue to provide to our customers throughout the transition,” said Intelsat.

    Click HERE for further details from Satnews Daily

    Shares closed today $3.17/share

     

    Earnings Preview: Intelsat (I) Q4 Earnings Expected to Decline
    Posted:
    12 February 2020

    Wall Street expects a year-over-year decline in earnings on lower revenues when Intelsat (I) reports results for the quarter ended December 2019. While this widely-known consensus outlook is important in gauging the company's earnings picture, a powerful factor that could impact its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.

    The earnings report might help the stock move higher if these key numbers are better than expectations. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.

    While the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call, it's worth handicapping the probability of a positive EPS surprise.

    Click HERE for further details from Zacks.

    Shares closed today $3.29/share

     

    The Space Industry's B.S. Problem
    Posted:
    11 February 2020

    A space industry flush with startups and easy money struggles to tamp down all the B.S.

    At a meteorology conference, a space industry consultant asked if I'd heard the news.  He claimed the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration canceled plans to buy commercial weather satellite data.  Since I hadn't heard, I checked with NOAA officials who confirmed my suspicion.  It wasn't true.

    Journalists have always looked for sources to trust and clues to help separate fact from fiction, but it's never been more daunting than in this period of rapid change for the space industry.  Startups make bold claims about their current technology, on-orbit performance and future prospects.  Industry veterans, meanwhile, patiently explain why the claims are unrealistic or physically impossible.  Neither side has a monopoly on candor.  In the last couple of years, SpaceNews reporters have been warned of exaggerated test results, forged documentation and a padded resume.  We've heard creative explanations for projects canceled or delayed.

    An entrepreneur told a reporter the firm's launch was on hold because the launch vehicle operator was having trouble finding additional passengers to share the flight.  The launch vehicle operator offered a different explanation:  the startup couldn't pay for the flight.

    Click HERE for further details from SPACENEWS

    Shares closed today $3.35/share

     

    Intelsat Gets Downgraded Again Because $5 Billion Doesn't Fix Everything
    Posted: 10
    February 2020

    Satellite operator Intelsat S.A. has been downgraded by another Wall Street analyst, after investors learned that a lump-sum payment linked to the U.S.’s transition to 5G won’t measure up to their initial hopes.

    Raymond James downgraded the stock (ticker: I) to “Market Perform,” the equivalent of hold, from “Outperform,” the firm’s second-strongest buy rating. The shares were down 8% in early Monday trading.

    Intelsat could get up to $4.9 billion in incentive payments for meeting a three-year deadline to relocate satellites as part of the U.S.’s transition to 5G, according to a draft order released Friday by the Federal Communications Commission.

    But the company has nearly $15 billion of debt, and analysts at J.P. Morgan Chase say it faces a “challenged business.” Investors were initially hoping for a payout of up to $24 billion for Intelsat.

    Click HERE for further details from Barron's.

    Shares closed today $3.34/share

     

    Intelsat Stock Falls as Anaylst Sees 'Little Hope' for Investors after FCC's 5G Spectrum Proposal
    Posted: 8 February 2020

    J.P. Morgan turns bearish, sees ‘little to no’ value in the shares after FCC Chairman Pai’s plan to free up C-band spectrum for 5G

    Shares of Intelsat S.A. took a tumble Friday, after J.P. Morgan analyst Philip Cusick said Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai’s proposal to quickly free up spectrum for 5G networks leaves “little hope” for equity investors.

    Cusick downgraded the Luxembourg-based satellite services company to a rare underweight rating, after being at neutral the past three months, and at overweight for seven months before that. He removed his price target of $9, writing in a note to clients that “we see little to no fundamental equity value in shares” given Pai’s proposal.

    Only 15% of companies covered by J.P. Morgan analysts are rated underweight, while 41% are rated neutral and 45% are rated overweight.

    The stock I, +0.27% slid as much as 155% intraday, before paring some losses to be down 9.4% in active midday trading.

    Click HERE for further details from Market Watch

    Shares closed today $3.75share

     

    Intelsat Reaches Deal with the FCC on C-Band Airwaves
    Posted:
    6 February 2020

    (Bloomberg) -- Intelsat SA and other satellite providers would share as much as $14.9 billion under a proposal from federal regulators to compensate them for giving up airwaves in an auction to wireless companies.

    The U.S. Federal Communications Commission announced Thursday a plan that would provide $9.7 billion in compensation to Intelsat, SES SA and other companies if they hit deadlines for leaving the airwaves quickly, and another $3.3 billion to $5.2 billion to pay for costs of making the switch.

    “It’s only fair that every single reasonable cost should be covered,” FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said Thursday.

    At stake is what portion of auction proceeds, projected to reach tens of billions of dollars, should go to satellite providers including Intelsat and SES, both based in Luxembourg, and Eutelsat SA.

    The satellite companies have proposed giving up part of the airwaves they use to beam TV and radio programs to stations, and to continue serving customers on airwaves they retain. The swath at issue is known as the C-band, and regulators are eager to free it to carry traffic for fast new 5G networks.

    Click HERE for further details from Reuters

    Shares closed today $3.76/share

     

    Intelsat Responds to Remarks of FCC Chairman Ajit Pai in C-Band Proceeding
    Posted:
    6 February 2020

    Incentive clearing payments to certain satellite operators to total $9.7 billion, exclusive of clearing costs

    Draft Order expected on 7 February 2020

    Intelsat (NYSE: I) today responded to remarks delivered by Federal Communications Commission ("FCC") Chairman Ajit Pai at an industry event hosted by the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation in Washington, D.C. The Chairman’s commentary previewed the key elements of a highly anticipated draft order in the C-band proceeding in which Intelsat has been an active participant since 2017. Once issued, the draft order is expected to detail the FCC’s approach to clearing C-band spectrum to enable rapid and nationwide 5G network deployment in the U.S.

    Intelsat CEO Steve Spengler said, "The issuance of the draft order represents a significant milestone in a process that we began in 2017. We look forward to reviewing the draft order, once issued, to place Chairman Pai’s comments in full context. We note with appreciation the hard work of all stakeholders to get to this juncture, and the work to come leading up to the Commission’s vote on February 28, 2020."

    Click HERE for further details from Business Wire

     

    Debt Tantrum From Space Forces U.S. Hand in 5G Race
    Posted: 6 February 2020

    (Bloomberg Opinion) -- A messy situation risked becoming irreversibly messier.

    The $35 billion(1)fight over fifth-generation mobile spectrum involves the Federal Communications Commission; a handful of foreign-domiciled satellite operators that think they deserve the bulk of the proceeds (at least one of which desperately needs the money); the U.S. national wireless services providers that want the bandwidth as soon as possible; and a host of politicians keen for American taxpayers to get what they see as their rightful due. 

    Then, just before FCC Chairman Ajit Pai’s Thursday announcement on how things should go down, one of those players appeared to threaten to throw a temper tantrum if it didn’t get its way. Luxembourg-based Intelsat SA was considering a possible Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing if the regulators doesn’t increase the compensation it receives for giving up some of its airwaves, according to a Wednesday report by my Bloomberg News colleague Todd Shields.

    Click HERE for further details from Bloomberg

     

    FCC Chairman Backs $9.7 Billion in Incentive Payments to Satellite Firms to Shift Spectrum
    Posted:
    6 February 2020

    By David Shepardson

    WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai on Thursday proposed $9.7 billion in incentive payments to accelerate the freeing up of spectrum in the key C-band by shifting existing satellite users.

    The telecommunications regulator had told lawmakers last month it was considering proposing "single-digit billions" in payments. Major satellite firms, including Intelsat SA, are expected to back Pai's proposal to shift them to different parts of the spectrum band. FCC officials told reporters they were optimistic of agreement.

    Pai said in a speech on Thursday he backed the accelerated relocation payments to "make available the C-band for 5G deployment as quickly as possible" and to "align the satellite companies’ private interests with the public interest."

    Click HERE for further details from Reuters

     

    Intelsat Holders Ponder Cryptic FCC Tweet Hours Before Decision
    Posted: 5 February 2020

    (Bloomberg) -- A cryptic tweet by Federal Communications Commissioner Brendan Carr is adding mystery to the Intelsat SA drama as FCC Chairman Ajit Pai is expected to unveil the agency’s plans for C-band airwaves on Thursday.

    Some investors speculated what Carr meant when he said “a lot can change in 24 hours.” When reached by email, Carr told Bloomberg it “was just a waffle tweet” and had “no more meaning.”

    Pai is set to announce plans for an auction of C-band spectrum and a key issue is how much to pay satellite providers including Intelsat and SES SA. New Street Research said Wednesday that there’s a significant chance the C-Band Alliance “walks out of the process” should Pai choose a fixed payment auction that gives the group less than $16 billion.

    Click HERE for further details from Bloomberg

    Shares closed today $3.72/share

     

    Intelsat
    Posted: 5 February 2020

    by Rachel Jewett | February 5, 2020

    Intelsat has reportedly hired law firm Kirkland & Ellis to consider a possibe Chapter 11 bankruptcy if U.S. regulators don't increase the company's compensation for C-band spectrum, Bloomberg Law reports.

    Intelsat told Via Satellite on Wednesday that it will not comment on rumor, and Kirkland & Ellis did not respond to a request to comment.  Intelsat's stock closed at $3.72 per hare on Wednesday after opening at $4.00 per share Wednesday morning.

    Click HERE for further details from Via Satellite

     

    Intelsat Weights Chapter 11 Among Options on C-Band Plan
    Posted: 5 February 2020

    (Bloomberg) -- Intelsat SA is considering a possible Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing if U.S. regulators don’t increase the amount of compensation the company would receive for giving up some of its airwaves, a person close to the company said.

    Intelsat has hired bankruptcy experts at Kirkland & Ellis LLP to prepare for possible restructuring, said the person who spoke on condition of anonymity because the matter isn’t public.

    Intelsat plunged as much as 34% to $2.61 before trading was paused for volatility. Intelsat bonds led high-yield declines, as its 9.5% notes due in February 2023 fell 12.3 cents on the dollar to about 50 cents, yielding about 39%.

    The Chapter 11 filing would delay the U.S. Federal Communications Commission plan to move forward with an auction of the so-called C-band airwaves because Intelsat assets would be entangled in court proceedings, the person said.

    Click HERE for further details from Bloomberg

     

    Intelsat Stock Has Been Diving in a 5G Free-for-All. One of Its Bonds Could be a Winner
    Posted: 4 February 2020

     

    Less than a year ago, the stock became popular with hedge funds.  While it had (and has) unusually high leverage, investor thought Intelsat could earn a windfall -- as much as $24 billioin -- from an auction of spectrum expected to be used for 5G, known as the "C-Band."  Luxembourg-based Intelsat (I) and a handful of other satellite operators had formed a trade group call the C-Ban Alliance to lobby for a private sale.

    But analysts started to point out that satellite operators' rights to sell C-Band spectrum were somewhat enuous.  Then one C-Band Alliance member dropped out and promoted its own auction plan.  In Mid-November, Federal Communications Commission Chair Ajit Pai said he wanted to hold a public auction of C-Band spectrum, leading investors to scale back their estimates for auction proceeds.  Pai will announce details of the FCC's auction plan in a Thursday speech.

    Click HERE for further details from Barron's

    Shares closed today $3.97/share

     

    Maxar Technology Will Build Next-Generation Intelsat Epic Geostationary Communications Satellite with NASA Hosted Payload
    Posted:
    3 February 2020

    WESTMINSTER, Colo. & MCLEAN, Va.--()--Intelsat (NYSE: I) has selected Maxar Technologies (NYSE:MAXR) (TSX:MAXR), a trusted partner and innovator in Earth Intelligence and Space Infrastructure, to manufacture Intelsat 40e, a next-generation geostationary communications satellite scheduled to launch in 2022. Maxar will integrate NASA’s Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring of Pollution (TEMPO) payload with the Intelsat 40e satellite.

    “When it’s launched, Intelsat 40e will be the newest addition to our next-generation Intelsat Epic platform, which is already providing our global customers with flexible, high-performance connectivity they can count on today – and in the future,” said Intelsat CEO Stephen Spengler. “Intelsat continuously invests in innovative new satellite and hybrid technologies that make it easy and affordable for our customers to connect people, devices and networks, even in the most remote locations. We look forward to partnering with Maxar on this next build.”

    Click HERE for further details Business Wire

    Shares closed today $3.54/share

     

    Intelsat - 15% as Barclays Sets New Low Target
    Posted: 30 January 2020

    Intelsat (NYSE: I) has tumbled 14.8% premarket after Barclays slashes its price target to a Street low.

    The firm reduced its target to $3.90 from a previous $20 in the wake of Senate action that could place a limit on payouts to C-band spectrum holders in an auction of the airwaves.  That new target implies 3.2% upside.

    Click HERE for further details from seekingalpha.com

    Shares closed today $3.10/share

     

    Why Intelsat Stock Dropped 23% Today
    Posted:
    29 January 2020

    The Senate could be preparing to confiscate Intelsat's C-Band wealth.

    Rich Smith (TMFDitty)
    Jan 29, 2020 at  11:49AM

    What happened

    Shares of satellite communications company Intelsat (NYSE:I), which got walloped last year for a 67% loss, are taking it on the chin again Wednesday. Down 24.2% as of 10:40 a.m. EST, Intelsat is currently the worst-performing stock on the NYSE, literally.

    You can thank the United States Senate for that.  

    So what

    As Multichannel News reports this morning, the Senate is currently working on a version of the proposed Spectrum Management and Reallocation for Taxpayers (SMART) Act, which would require Intelsat and its satcom peers Telesat and Loral Space & Communications to hold a public auction allowing 5G internet providers to bid on about 300 megahertz of their current C-band satellite spectrum.

    Because a public auction would almost certainly take longer to organize than a private auction (which the o-called C-Band Alliance would prefer), this already bad news for Intelsat.  But worse than that, the SMART Act reportedly plans to cap the proceeds Intelsat, Telesat, and Loral might reap from the auction at just $1 billion.

    Click HERE for further details from The Motley Fool

    Shares closed today $3.77/share

     

    C-Band Alliance Pegs Satellite Spectrum Clearing Costs at $3.3 Billion
    Posted: 29 January 2020

    by  — 

    WASHINGTON — The C-Band Alliance said it will cost Intelsat, SES and Telesat $3.3 billion to clear 300 megahertz of C-band spectrum for U.S. 5G wireless networks without leaving satellite-dependent television broadcasters in a lurch. 

    The C-Band Alliance released the new cost figure earlier this week just ahead of a bipartisan group of U.S. senators introducing legislation that would cap how much the satellite industry could receive under the C-band auction the Federal Communications Commission hopes to initiate by the end of the year.

    The C-Band Alliance, which Intelsat, SES, Eutelsat and Telesat formed in 2018 to convince the FCC to let them sell some of their satellite spectrum to bandwidth-hungry 5G network operators and keep the proceeds, are still hoping to have these and other transition costs covered despite the FCC’s November decision to run a public spectrum auction instead. 

    Click HERE for further details from SPACENEWS.

     

    Help Us Find These Members
    Posted: 
    27 January 2020

    We have lost contact with these members below.  If you have any information on how to contact them, please send us an EMail at:  info@myiraa.comm

    John Crispin
    Mary Helms
    Lee Huffman

     

    Etam Earth Station for Sale
    Posted: 20 January 2020

    Here is a link below to an article which appeared in The Dominion Post of North-Central, WVA, about Etam earth station being visited by a representative from an international satellite company which may be interested in buying the historic earth station.

                                                                                                 Site featured in video game Fallout 76  for sale

    Click HERE for further details from The Dominion Post

     

     

    Introducing Intelsat (NYSE: I), The Stock That Zoomed 164% In The Last Three Years
    Posted: 15 January 2020

    Intelsat S.A. (NYSE:I) shareholders might understandably be very concerned that the share price has dropped 72% in the last quarter. But that doesn't change the fact that the returns over the last three years have been very strong. In fact, the share price is up a full 164% compared to three years ago. After a run like that some may not be surprised to see prices moderate. The fundamental business performance will ultimately dictate whether the top is in, or if this is a stellar buying opportunity.

    Given that Intelsat didn't make a profit in the last twelve months, we'll focus on revenue growth to form a quick view of its business development. Generally speaking, companies without profits are expected to grow revenue every year, and at a good clip. That's because it's hard to be confident a company will be sustainable if revenue growth is negligible, and it never makes a profit.

    Click HERE for further details from Simply Wall StreetYahoo Finance

    Shares closed today $7.03/share

     

    C-Band Analyst Says Spectrum Auction May Net $50 Billion
    Posted: 6 January 2020

    By Kamaron Leach

    January 6, 2020, 3:46 PM EST Updated on January 6, 2020, 5:33 PM EST

    Robust demand for mid-band spectrum across the globe could prove a key indicator that some investors may be undervaluing the C-band opportunity in the U.S. According to New Street Research, a domestic C-Band spectrum sale could find satellite operators conservatiely netting proceeds of about $50 billion.  That positive view stems from Taiwan's recent auction of the 3.5GHz band, where New Street said the bids were "blowing away expectations."

    At hand is the international race among governmental bodies to become the leadr of 5G, and in the U.S investors backing the C-Band Alliance want top dollar for giving up it frequencies to enable the technology. But when Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai rejected the group's long-sought-after hopes of a private auction in November, investors were left perplexed at what Intelsat SA and SES SA could reap from a public sale of the airwaves.

    Click HERE for further details from Bloomberg

    Shares closed today $7.35/share

     

    Argument Preview: Are fiduciaries of defined-benefit pension plans that meet minimum funding criteria
    protected from lawsuits for fiduciary breach?

    Posted: 7 January 2020

    Dana Muir Guest

    Posted Mon, January 6th 2020 1:00 pm

    James Thole and Sherry Smith are participants and beneficiaries in U.S. Bancorp’s defined-benefit pension plan. Prior to the 2008 financial crisis, plan fiduciaries invested 100 percent of the plan’s assets in equities. Thole and Smith allege that the aggressive investment portfolio caused the plan to lose $748 million more during the crisis than it would have lost had the assets been appropriately diversified. As a result of the losses, the plan’s assets fell to 84 percent of the minimum funding level required by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. Thole and Smith also argue that the decision to invest approximately $1.2 billion of plan assets in mutual funds offered by a subsidiary wholly owned by U.S. Bancorp was made to benefit U.S. Bancorp, and caused the plan to pay higher investment fees than it would have paid for similar mutual funds offered by other firms.

    Click HERE for further details from SCOTUSblog

     

    Happy New Year 2020!
    Posted: 1 January 2020

     

    Welcome New Member
    Posted: 31 December 2019

    We are pleased to Welcome the following new member to the Intelsat Retirees and Alumni Association:

    December 2019

    Chi-Ping Siu

     

    How Did Intelsat (I) Compare Against Hedge Fund Darlings in 2019?
    Posted: 25 December 2019

    We are still in an overall bull market and many stocks that smart money investors were piling into surged in 2019. Among them, Facebook and Microsoft ranked among the top 3 picks and these stocks gained 57% each. Hedge funds’ top 3 stock picks returned 44.6% this year and beat the S&P 500 ETFs by nearly 14 percentage points. Investing in index funds guarantees you average returns, not superior returns. We are looking to generate superior returns for our readers. That’s why we believe it isn’t a waste of time to check out hedge fund sentiment before you invest in a stock like Intelsat S.A. (NYSE:I).

    Click HERE for further details from Insider Monkey

     

    Intelsat (I) Tanks in 2019: A Value Stock or a Value Trap?
    Posted: 24 December 2019

    Shares of Intelsat S.A. (I Free Report) have declined 68.1% so far (as of Dec 23, 2019), making it the worst performer within the Zacks Satellite and Communication industry. The decline was primarily triggered by the Federal Communications Commission’s (“FCC”) support for the purported move by the Congress to hold public auction for its C-band spectrum.

    The Downfall Trigger

    Intelsat, along with some other satellite providers, had decided to sell some of the airwaves in the 3.7 gigahertz-to-4.2 gigahertz area of spectrum – widely known as the C-band – in a private auction to raise cash and repay debt. The airwaves acquired over the years were mostly used by these firms to deliver videos to TV stations and were considered as surplus resources. Moreover, the coveted spectrum was much in demand by telecom carriers for the deployment of 5G networks and offered a huge opportunity to rake in large sums of money.

    Click HERE for further details from Zacks

    Shares closed today $6.74/share

     

    Intelsat (I) Catches Eye:Stock Jumps 8.9%
    Posted: 19 December 2019

    Intelsat S.A. (I - Free Report) was a big mover last session, as the company saw its shares rise nearly 9% on the day. The move came on solid volume too with far more shares changing hands than in a normal session. This stock, which remained volatile and traded within the range of $5.96–$7.12 in the past one-month time frame, witnessed a sharp increase yesterday.

    The company has seen no changes when it comes to estimate revision over the past few weeks, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current quarter has also remained unchanged. The recent price action is encouraging though, so make sure to keep a close watch on this firm in the near future.

    Click HERE for further details from Zacks

    Shares closed today $6.91/share

     

    Intelsat's Battered Investors Defy Risk with Bets on C-Band Sale
    Posted: 16 December 2019

    (Bloomberg) -- A catastrophic November for Intelsat SA hasn’t scared off bulls clinging to hopes the satellite operator will score a big payday selling wireless spectrum to cell phone companies.

    Despite losing more than three-quarters of its value last month after being dealt a blow by the Federal Communications Commission, nearly half of Intelsat analysts tracked by Bloomberg still have buy ratings.

    At the heart of their optimism is a belief the market is taking too dim a view of the company’s prospects to cash in on the sale of so-called C-band radio spectrum, which it controls -- or thought it did. Satellite operators suffered an interstellar sucker punch last month when the FCC got in the way of their plan to sell the bandwidth directly to mobile phone operators, raising the prospect of a public auction process in which the government gets almost all the money.

    Click HERE for further details from Bloomberg

    Shares closed today $5.96/share

     

    Option Traders Expect Huge Moves in Intelsat (I) Stock
    Posted: 11 December 2019

     

    Investors in Intelsat S.A. (I - Free Report) need to pay close attention to the stock based on moves in the options market lately. That is because the Jan 17, 2020 $7.00 Call had some of the highest implied volatility of all equity options today.

    What is Implied Volatility?

    Implied volatility shows how much movement the market is expecting in the future. Options with high levels of implied volatility suggest that investors in the underlying stocks are expecting a big move in one direction or the other. It could also mean there is an event coming up soon that may cause a big rally or a huge sell off. However, implied volatility is only one piece of the puzzle when putting together an options trading strategy.

    Click HERE for further details from Zacks Equity Research

    Shares closed today $6.35/share

     

    Why is Intelsat (I) Down 75.3% Since Last Earnings Report?
    Posted: 27 November 2019

    A month has gone by since the last earnings report for Intelsat (I). Shares have lost about 75.3% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500.

    Will the recent negative trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Intelsat due for a breakout? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at its most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important drivers.

    Intelsat Q3 Loss Wider Than Expected, Revenues Down Y/Y

    Intelsat reported lackluster third-quarter 2019 results, wherein the top line decreased year over year.

    Click HERE for further details from Zacks Equity Research

    Shares closed today $6.08/share

     

    Intelsat Recognized with SD-WAN-Over-Satellite "Service Implementation of the Year" Award
    Posted: 27 November 2019

    MCLEAN, Va.--()--Intelsat S.A. (NYSE: I) announced its “SD-WAN over Satellite Access” demonstration won the 2019 Service Implementation of the Year award at the Metro Ethernet Forum (MEF) 3.0 Proof-of-Concept Showcase in Los Angeles last week. The annual event, hosted by international industry consortium MEF, focuses on the interoperability of connectivity services and brings carriers and technology providers together to showcase innovative real-world applications of the MEF 3.0 interoperability framework.

    Click HERE for further details from BusinessWire

    Shares closed today $6.35/share

     

    How America Can Still Win the Race to 5G Wireless Technology
    Posted: 26 November 2019

    The Federal Communictions Commission has thrown a curveball into the global race for deployment of 5G - the much-anticipated fifth generation of cellular and wireless technology.  FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has announced his support for a government-run auction of an underutilized 500-megahertz space on the electronic spectrum that cellphe carriers like AT&T and Verizion need to deliver 5G wireless services.

    It had been widel believed that this valued spectrum now under lease by the satellite companies and others would be transferred to the cellular communications compaines through a uasi-privte auction.  The revenues from this uaction of unused spectrum rights are estimated at between $10 billion and $30 billion.

    Intelsat shares (ticker: I) plunged to just over $6 on Tuesday, after declining for the past two weeks from $24 amid a still unfolding discussion about how best to transfer control a 280 MHz slice of the 500 MHz of C-Band radio spectrum now controlled by Intelsat and three other satellite communications firms to telecommunications carriers for use in 5G wireless networks.

    Intelsat and two other companies in a group called the C-Band Alliance had proposed holding a private auction to expedite the sale process; the FCC has decided instead to do a public auction under rules yet to be determined.

    Click HERE for further details from RealPolitics

    Shares closed today $6.60/share

     

    Buy Intelsat Stock Because Its Price Has Dropped Far Enough, Analyst Says
    Posted: 20 November 2019

    Intelsat shares were on the mend following the satellite company's recent 75% swoon, after Raymond James analyst ard Prentiss lifted his rating on the stock on Wednesday to Outperform from Market Perform, with a target price of $12.

    Intelsat shares (ticker: I) plunged to just over $6 on Tuesday, after declining for the past two weeks from $24 amid a still unfolding discussion about how best to transfer control a 280 MHz slice of the 500 MHz of C-Band radio spectrum now controlled by Intelsat and three other satellite communications firms to telecommunications carriers for use in 5G wireless networks.

    Intelsat and two other companies in a group called the C-Band Alliance had proposed holding a private auction to expedite the sale process; the FCC has decided instead to do a public auction under rules yet to be determined.

    Click HERE for further details from Barron's.

    Shares closed today $7.12/share

     

    Analyst Upgrades Intelsat's Stock Following 75% Decline
    Posted: 20 November 2019

    Intesat SA (NYSE: I) shares have taken a beating in the past week, plummeting more than 70% on concerns related to the Federal Communications Commission opting for a public auction of the company's C-band spectrum.  Fortunately for Intelsat investors, one Wall Street analyst said the sell-off has created a buying opportunity.

    The Analyst

    Raymond James analyst Ric Prentiss  upgraded Intelsat from Market Perform to Outperform and set a $12 price target.

    The Thesis

    Prentiss said Intelsat shares have been hit by a one-two punch of the FCC decision for a public spectrum auction and then a Senate bill suggesting the U.S. Treasury would take at least 50% of the auction proceeds.

    However, a new House bill calls for the Treasury to get only 25% of the proceeds.

    “Plus some previous FCC run spectrum auctions have included government stakes of ~20-40% and we think that is a more likely final outcome as a 50% or higher stake would probably result in litigation from the satellite operators and ties the spectrum up in court instead of hanging on towers providing much needed 5G capacity,” Prentiss wrote in a note.

    Given the extreme pullback in Intelsat shares, he said the risk-reward balance is now skewed to the upside.

    Click HERE for further details from Benzinga

     

    Intelsat Stock Bounces After Recent 'Dramatic' Pullback Turns Raymond James Bullish
    Posted: 20 November 2019

    Shares of Intelsat S.A. jumped 13% in premarket trading Wednesday, bouncing after a 55% plunge in two days, after Raymond James analyst Ric Prentiss turned bullish on the satellite communications company, citing improved valuation after the "dramatic" pullback. Prentiss raised his rating to outperform from market perform, and set a stock price target of $12, which is nearly double Tuesday's closing price of $6.09. The stock's plunge this week, and the 76% selloff so far this month, after the FCC chose a public auction for 5G spectrum over a private auction, and a Senate committee followed by introducing a bill Monday requiring at least 50% of the proceeds from the auction go to the U.S. Treasury. Prentiss said a final outcome of 50% going to Treasury was unlikely, as it would "probably" lead to litigation, and given previous FCC-run spectrum auctions have included government stakes of about 20% to 40%. Therefore, "given the recent dramatic pullback," he believes the risk-vs.-reward profile is now "more interesting." The stock has tumbled 71.5% year to date through Tuesday, while the S&P 500 has gained 24.5%.

    Click HERE for further details from MarketWatch

     

    Intelsat Shares Tank on FCC Call for Public Spectrum Auction
    Posted: 20 November 2019

     

    Intelsat S.A.’s I shares declined sharply yesterday as the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) lent its support for the purported move by the Congress to hold public auction for its C-band spectrum. The stock has tanked 56.6% in the past two days as investors resorted to panic selling.

    Intelsat, along with some other satellite providers, had decided to sell some of the airwaves in the 3.7 gigahertz-to-4.2 gigahertz area of spectrum – widely known as the C-band – in a private auction to raise cash and repay debt. The airwaves acquired over the years were mostly used by these firms to deliver videos to TV stations and were considered as surplus resources. Moreover, the coveted spectrum was much in demand by telecom carriers for the deployment of 5G networks and offered a huge opportunity to rake in large sums of money.

    Click HERE for further details from Zacks Equity Research

     

    The Catch-22 in a $50 Billion 5G Airwaves Fight
    Posted: 19 November 2019

     

    (Bloomberg Opinion) -- There’s been a lot of drama lately in the wireless world concerning 5G and something called C-band. To most people, all the news headlines have probably looked like a foreign language. But allow me to translate for you, because it’s a fascinating situation that has sparked a transnational fight over some $50 billion, while presenting advocates of President Donald Trump’s “America First” policy with a catch-22. The outcome may have far-reaching implications for the U.S. in the global race to 5G, and it certainly does for a pair of beaten-down European stocks. 

    At the root of the drama is spectrum, the invisible airwaves sought after by U.S. wireless carriers — Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint — and others to construct ultra-fast 5G data networks, the kind that will enable a smartphone to download a movie in mere seconds and support driverless car technology. The Federal Communications Commission has been working to free up spectrum being used by other institutions so that it can be auctioned off to the 5G builders and repurposed for their networks, a high priority for the Trump administration.

    Click HERE for further details from Bloomberg

    Shares closed today $6.08/share

     

    Intelsat's Stock Keeps Sinking as Congress Looks to 'Rake' in Revenue from 5G Spectrum Auction
    Posted:  19 November 2019

    Shares of Intelsat S.A. continued to plummet to earth on heavy volume after the U.S. Federal Communications Commission’s decision to move forward with a public auction of new 5G spectrum prompted what was essentially a Congressional money grab.

    Intelsat I, -24.16%   dropped 22% in afternoon trading, putting it on track for the lowest close since April 2018. Trading volume swelled to 291 million shares, compared with the full-day average of about 6.8 million shares.

    The selloff comes one day after a 40.1% plunge on 56.1 million shares, which was the stock’s biggest-ever one-day decline, and five days after the second-largest drop of 29.2% on 29.7 million shares, which came amid growing concerns over a negative regulatory decision.

    Click HERE for further details from MarketWatch

     

    Intelsat Shorts Stick to Positions Even After Record 75% Wipeout
    Posted: 19 November 2019

    (Bloomberg) -- Short sellers are betting that Intelsat shares have further to fall even after a record slump this month erased more than 75% of the satellite company’s market value.

    About 15.4 million shares were on loan to bears on Tuesday, up from 15.1 million at the end of October, according to data from S3 Partners. Short sellers are sitting on more than $250 million in paper gains but don’t appear to be cashing in yet, according to Ihor Dusaniwsky, S3’s managing director of predictive analytics.

    “As a good short seller, you ride out your profits and that’s what it looks like they’re doing,” Dusaniwsky said. “They’re holding on and looking for the stock to go down even further.”

    Click HERE for further details from Insider Monkey/Yahoo Finance

     

    FCC Chairman Calls for Public Auction of C-Band Airwaves
    Posted: 19 November 2019

    (Bloomberg) -- Intelsat SA had its worst two-day rout and SES SA plunged as investors assessed the satellite providers' prospects after a key regular rejected their plan to raise billions of dollars by selling airwaves in a private auction.

    Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai instead called for a public auction, something that could reduce the companies' share of the proceeds.

    The satellite providers want to sell some of the airwaves they now use to deliver video to TV stations to raise cash. The companies have concluded they no longer need all the spectrum they have acquired over the years.

    Meanwhile, the frequencies are coveted by fast-growing mobile providers eager to build the next generation of wireless, 5G networks.

    Click HERE for further details from Bloomberg

     

    Analysts React to FCC Decision on Intelsat C-Band Spectrum Auction
    Posted: 19 November 2019

    Intelsat SA (NYSE: I) shares tanked another 20% on Tuesday after Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai publicly declared his support for Congress to hold public auctions for Intelsat’s C-Band spectrum. Intelsat and other spectrum holders have been pushing to hold a private auction for their spectrum, which would potentially take place much sooner than a public alternative.

    The proposed Senate bill would require sellers to turn over at least 50% of the proceeds from the spectrum sale to the FCC. As a result of the FCC decision, Intelsat’s stock is down 50% in the past two days, and Wall Street analysts see a messy road ahead.

    Click HERE for further details from Benzinga

     

    SES Shares Tumble 20% After FCC Chairman Voices Support for Public Airwaves Sale
    Posted: 18 November 2019

    Shares of SES SA FDR tumbled 21% on Tuesday, a day after Federal Communications Chairman Ajit Pai said via Twitter that he would back a public auction to free up spectrum for 5G. Luxembourg-based satellite companies SES and Intelsat SA were lobbying for a private auction of the so-called C-band spectrum, used to deliver videos and radio programs to U.S. households. The FCC wants to free it up for carriers to bid on as 5G service gears up. Pai said the agency wants to make C-band spectrum available quickly for 5G and also must generate revenue for the government, saying the best way forward is an auction of 280 megahertz of the C0band.  Intelsat shares plunged 40% on Monday.

    Click HERE for further details from Insider MarketWatch

    Shares closed today $8.03/share

     

    Why Intelsat Stock Plummeted 40% Today
    Posted: 18 November 2019

    Rich Smith (TMFDitty)
    Nov. 18, 2019 at  7:51PM

    What happened

    The down-againup-again roller-coaster ride that has been Intelsat (NYSE:I) over the past week or so took a sudden, jagged turn down again on Monday, with shares of the satellite communications stock closing off a staggering 40%.

    You can blame Twitter for that -- and also the FCC.

    On Monday, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai tweeted out his support for a movement in Congress to hold a public auction of C-Band spectrum, currently controlled by Intelsat and fellow satcoms Telesat and Loral Space & Communications.  

    Click HERE for further details from The Motley Fool

     

    C-Band Alliance Responds to Announcement by Federal Communications Commission Chairman
    Regarding C-Band Spectrum Proceeding

    Posted: 18 November 2019

    WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

    The C-Band Alliance (“CBA”), comprised of the leading global satellite operators Intelsat (NYSE:I), SES (Euronext Paris: SESG), and Telesat, responded today to an announcement by the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) that he intends to pursue a public auction to clear the satellite spectrum currently licensed to the members of the C-Band Alliance.

    In a statement, the CBA said, “The FCC Chairman’s indication that he intends to pursue a public auction of C-band spectrum is a significant departure from the CBA’s market-based proposal. The announcement does not address the critical involvement of the incumbent satellite operators in executing the complex task of reconfiguring and transitioning their networks. Nor does the announcement address the fundamental modification of the rights afforded by the existing FCC licenses held by the CBA members which would be required under a public auction approach.

    Click HERE for further details from BusinessWire

     

    FCC Chief Backs Public Auction for 5G Spectrum, Sending Satellite Stocks Reeling Again
    Posted:  18 November 2019

    3 satellite companies had lobbied for a private auction of the ‘C-band’ spectrum, but U.S. lawmakers objected

    The FCC is arranging for a spectrum auction that will be a key step in the U.S. deployment of 5G.

    The head of the Federal Communications Commission on Monday sided with some vocal lawmakers and disappointed three satellite companies, as he backed a public auction of radio spectrum rather than the companies’ plan for a private auction.

    The auction is a key step in the U.S. deployment of 5G, as the “C-band” spectrum will be getting repurposed for wireless carriers to use for fifth-generation services. In announcing his decision, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said the regulatory agency’s top principles in setting up an auction are freeing up significant spectrum for 5G, doing that quickly, generating revenue for the federal government and protecting services that currently use the C-band.

    Click HERE for further details from MarketWatch

     

    Give Away $60 Billion' to Foreign Companies? The 'America First' Trump Administration Faces a Tricky 5G Choice
    Posted: 16 November 2019

    Supporters of a spectrum-auction plan from a European-Canadian alliance say it’s the best way to ensure the U.S. doesn’t fall behind on 5th-generation wireless technology

    The FCC draws flak while aiming for nationwide 5G.

    A big step in the U.S. deployment of 5G wireless could take place by year’s end, as the Federal Communications Commission has appeared on track to back a plan from the satellite industry for auctioning off radio spectrum.A section of spectrum is due to get repurposed for wireless carriers to use for fifth-generation services, and three satellite companies have proposed running an auction for this “C-band” spectrum as they relinquish it. The companies have formed a C-Band Alliance and maintain their plan offers “by far the fastest way” of achieving 5G deployment and competing with other countries — especially China, where a long-awaited 5G service has just rolled out — and yet not disrupt existing U.S. broadcast services.

    Click HERE for further details from MarketWatch

     

    Intelsat Stock Rebounds After Satellite Firms File Plan for Spectrum Auction
    Posted: 15 November 2019

    Intelsat shares have staged a strong rebound after the group of satellite service companies known as the C-Band Alliance filed a detailed plan on a proposed private auction of radio spectrum for re-use in 5G networks.

    Over the last few days, Intelsat shares (ticker: I) were cut in half as investors worried that the sale process could drag on for years as a result of opposition from some members of Congress who favor a public auction held by the Federal Communications Commission.

    Click HERE for further details from Barron's

    Shares closed today $13.40/share

     

    Companies Pushing Controversial 5G Spectrum Auction Offer to Give at Least 30% of Proceeds to U.S. Treasury
    Posted: 15 November 2019

     

    Shares in the satellite companies rally on Friday after sliding during the week amid concerns about their auction proposal’s chances

     

    The satellite companies behind a controversial plan for auctioning off key radio spectrum made a fresh push on Friday to win over skeptics, offering to pay at least 30% of the proposed auction’s net proceeds into the U.S. Treasury.

    The offer, which also includes a promise to help with rural broadband, comes after some analysts earlier this week warned the Federal Communications Commission might delay making a decision on the auction plan following objections from Republican and Democratic lawmakers. Before the opposition from Republican Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana and other lawmakers ramped up, an order favoring the companies’ proposal had looked on track to arrive as soon as at the regulatory agency’s Dec. 12 open meeting.

    xClick HERE for further details from Market Watch

     

    C-Band Alliance Files U.S. Treasury Contribution with Federal Communications Commission
    Posted: 15 November 2019

    Proposal would result in billions of dollars in contribution to the U.S. Treasury following completion of successful auction of C-band spectrum

    Proposal also features a plan to work with members of Congress to use a portion of the spectrum and some of the contributions to fund an open access 5G network for rural broadband, providing digital inclusion for rural American citizens

    Proposal is based on use of CBA spectrum clearing plan which would deliver cleared spectrum to enable era of 5G in United States, while protecting services for television and radio programmers

    WASHINGTON--()--The C-Band Alliance (“CBA”), comprised of the leading global satellite operators Intelsat (NYSE: I), SES (Euronext Paris: SESG), and Telesat, filed with the Federal Communications Commission today its Treasury Contribution Proposal.

    The contribution proposal states that if the FCC adopts the CBA proposal, the CBA commits to pay a portion of net proceeds of a CBA-led auction to the U.S. Treasury using a progressive formula which ranges from 30% to 75% of proceeds depending on the outcome of the auction. This payment to the U.S. Treasury would be calculated after the netting of all costs incurred to plan for and take all actions to implement the CBA proposal to clear 300 MHz of spectrum and is inclusive of all federal income tax liabilities incurred by the CBA member companies as a direct result of the auction.

    Click HERE for further details from BusinessWire

     

    Intelsat Stock Slides Another 15% on Doubts Over 5G Spectrum Auction
    Posted: 14 November 2019

     The sharp slide in Intelsat shares continued on Thursday, as concerns grow about the proposed auction of C-Band radio spectrum by an alliance of satellite communications companies for use by telcos building out 5G networks. The companies in the C-Band Alliance (CBA)— (I) (ticker: I) and SES (SGBAF), both based in Luxembourg, and Telesat, a Canadian firm majority-owned by (LORL) (LORL)—have proposed a private auction that would provide access to the spectrum to carriers building out 5G networks. The Federal Communications Commission is expected to take up the proposal as soon as its December meeting.

    Click HERE for further details from Barron's

    Shares closed today $12.13/share

     

    Intelsat's Stock Slide Continues
    Posted: 14 November 2019

    Intelsat SA shares are down 38% in the past two sessions.  The stock got a high-profiel downgrade Wednesday on concerns about Intelsat's proposed private spectrum auction proposal.

    Luxembourg-based Intelsat and SES have partnered with Canadian company Telesat to propose a private auction for the three companies’ C-Band radio spectrum, which is used for radio and TV broadcast in the U.S. With 5G wireless network launched imminent, however, some politicians are pushing back against the private auction proposal.

    "Don't give away $60 billion that belongs to the people of America to two companies in Luxembourg and one other one in Canada," Republican Sen. John Kennedy said n a recent speech.

    Click HERE for further details from Benzinga

     

    Intelsat Stock Tumbles as Controversy Grows Over 5G Spectrum Aution
    Posted: 13 November 2019

    As the world inches closer to 5G wireless, telecommunications carriers have growing urgency to secure more radio spectrum.

    Along those lines, a group of satellite communications operators-- Intelsat (I) and SES (SGBAF), both based in Luxembourg, and Telesat, a prviately held Canadian firm majority-owned by Loral Space & Communications (LORL)--have made a proposal to the Federal Communications Commission for a prviate auction of access to the C0Band radio spectrum they now use for radio and TV broadcasting applications.

    Click HERE for further details from Barron's

    Shares closed today $14.423/share

     

    Implied Volatility Surging for Intelsat (I) Stock Options
    Posted: 13 November 2019

    Investors in Intelsat S.A. (I - Free Report) need to pay close attention to the stock based on moves in the options market lately. That is because the Dec 20, 2019 $12.50 Put had some of the highest implied volatility of all equity options today.

    What is Implied Volatility?

    Implied volatility shows how much movement the market is expecting in the future. Options with high levels of implied volatility suggest that investors in the underlying stocks are expecting a big move in one direction or the other. It could also mean there is an event coming up soon that may cause a big rally or a huge sell-off. However, implied volatility is only one piece of the puzzle when putting together an options trading strategy

    Click HERE for further details from Zacks

     

    BlackSky Secures $50 Million Financing from Intelsat
    Posted: 12 November 2019

    The senior secured loan will help fund BlackSky's infrastructure and product development.

    WASHINGTON -- Geospatial data provider BlackSky announced Nov. 12 it has secured a $50 million loan from global communications satellite operator Intelsat.  The senior secured loan will finance BlackSky's infrastructure and product development for commercial and government customers.  BlackSky CEO Brian O'Toole told SpaceNews.

    In addition to the financing deal, O'Toole said, BlackSky and Intelsat are establishing a commercial partnership to jointly develop data and imagery products to be distributed via Intelsat's communications services.

    BlackSky is part of Spaceflight Industries, based in Seattle.  The company is in the process of expanding its constellation of small satellites that revist a given loction several times per day.  Four 1-meter resolution imaging satellites are in service today and 20 more are in production.  The new capital will help BlackSky meet its goal of deploying a 16-satellite constellation by 021, said O'Toole.

    Click HERE for further details from SPACENEWS

    Shares closed today $20.38/share

     

    This Satellite Intelligence Company Has Landed $50M from Intelsat
    Posted: 12 November 2019

    Herndon-based BlackSky, which provides satellite imaging and global monitoring services, has secured a $50 million loan from satellite firm Intelsat S.A. (NYSE: I), according to an announcement. The deal grants BlackSky access to Tysons-based Intelsat’s communications infrastructure, while the fresh funding will allow BlackSky to augment its existing business, the company said. “It takes a lot of expertise, engineering and capital to make smallsats viable; BlackSky is the first company to overcome these challenges with proven economies of scale," BlackSky President and CEO Brian O’Toole said in a statement.

    Click HERE for further details from Insider Washington Business Journal

     

    Is Intelsat S.A. (I) a Good Stock to Buy?
    Posted: 30 October 2019

    A whopping number of 13F filings filed with U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has been processed by Insider Monkey so that individual investors can look at the overall hedge fund sentiment towards the stocks included in their watchlists. These freshly-submitted public filings disclose money managers’ equity positions as of the end of the three-month period that ended June 28, so let’s proceed with the discussion of the hedge fund sentiment on Intelsat S.A. (NYSE:I).

    Intelsat S.A. (NYSE:I) shareholders have witnessed a decrease in hedge fund sentiment lately. I was in 42 hedge funds' portfolios at the end of the second quarter of 2019. There were 54 hedge funds in our database with I positions at the end of the previous quarter. Our calculations also showed that I isn't among the 30 most popular stocks among hedge funds (see the video below). 

    Click HERE for further details from Insider Monkey/Yahoo Finance

    Shares closed today $25.69/share

     

    Intelsat (I) Q3 Loss Wider Than Expected, Revenues Down Y/Y
    Posted: 30 October 2019

    Intelsat S.A. I reported lackluster third-quarter 2019 results, wherein the top line decreased year over year.  Despite the soft quarterly performance, the company's share price increased 1.18% in yesterday's trading session following the results to eventually close at $26.52, probably driven by an unchanged outlook for the year.

    Net Loss

    On GAAP basis, net loss for the reported quarter was $148.3 millioin or loss of $1.05 per share compared with loss of $374.6 million or loss of $2.74 per share in the prior-year quarter.  The narrower loss was mainly due to the absence of loss on early extinguishment of debt (amounting to $204.1 million), which was recorded in the prior-year quarter.  Adjusted net loss per share was $1.05, which was wider than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of loss of $1.

    Click HERE for further details from Zacks/Yahoo Finance

     

    C-Band Alliance Joins with U.S. Wireless Community on FCC Filing Detailing C-Band Auction Principles
    Posted: 29 October 2019

    National, regional, and rural wireless operators join with C-Band Alliance on principles for a C-band auction

    Principles include auction transparency, fairness, and efficiency; multi-round ascending clock auction format; and contribution of a portion of proceeds to U.S. Treasury

    WASHINGTON--()--The C-Band Alliance (CBA) announced today that it joined a number of national, regional, and rural wireless operators in an FCC filing detailing a set of principles to guide a process for auctioning off terrestrial rights to C-band spectrum.

    Consistent with the goal of clearing spectrum and completing the auction efficiently and expeditiously, the CBA has proposed to clear a first tranche of 120 MHz of spectrum, inclusive of the 20-MHz guard band, in 46 top metropolitan zones within 18 months of an FCC order. The second tranche of the remaining spectrum would be made available within 36 months of the C-band auction, providing cleared spectrum throughout the entire continental U.S.

    Click HERE for further details from BusinessWire

    Shares closed today $26.53/share

     

    C-Band Alliance Proposes to Clear 300 MHz of Spectrum for Nationwide 5G Deployment
    Posted: 28 October 2019

    C-Band Alliance updates 5G proposal to the FCC and offers to clear 300 MHz of C-band spectrum, inclusive of a 20-MHz guard band

    Proposes to make available for 5G use 100 MHz in 46 top metropolitan areas within 18 months of an FCC order, and 280 MHz throughout the continental U.S. within 36 months from a CBA-led auction

    Maintains reliability and continuity of all services and encourages customer use of advanced video compression and other technologies to improve spectrum efficiency

    WASHINGTON--()--The C-Band Alliance (CBA) announced today that it will commit to clear 300 MHz of C-band spectrum to support fast 5G wireless deployment throughout the continental U.S. In an updated filing with the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the CBA detailed that the 300 MHz of spectrum includes a 20-MHz guard band to protect existing satellite services from 5G interference.

    Further enhancing its plan to clear spectrum quickly, the first tranche—which clears spectrum within 18 months of an FCC order in 46 top metropolitan zones—is now increased to 120 MHz, inclusive of the 20-MHz guard band. The second tranche of the remaining spectrum will be made available within 36 months from a CBA-led auction, providing cleared spectrum throughout the entire continental U.S.

    Click HERE for further details from BusinessWire

    Shares closed today $26.21/share

     

    Welcome New Member
    Posted: 25 October 2019

    We are pleased to Welcome the following new member to the Intelsat Retirees and Alumni Association:

    October 2019

    Barbara Farmer

     

    Intelsat's FlexMaritime Powers KVH Elite Streaming Service for Yachts
    Posted: 9 Octboer 2019

    LUXEMBOURG--()--Intelsat S.A. (NYSE: I) announced today that its FlexMaritime service will power KVH Elite™ – a new, unlimited VSAT streaming service that provides high-definition (HD)-quality, dedicated bandwidth for yachts and leisure charters.

    “FlexMaritime provides a high-speed, flexible service that delivers the consistent and reliable performance that yacht owners need,” said Mark Rasmussen, SVP, Global Sales and Distribution, Intelsat. “The multi-layered satellite coverage ensures a clear advantage over competitive single-layer constellations, which often provide only best-effort service levels and don’t always offer consistent connectivity wherever and whenever it is needed. The combination of Intelsat’s global network infrastructure and KVH’s maritime expertise continues to expand the quality and availability of communications for the entire maritime sector.”

    Click HERE for further details from Business Wire

    Shares closed today $23.28/share

     

    Option Traders Expect  Huge Moves in Intelsat (I) Stock
    Posted: 27 September 2019

    Investors in Intelsat S.A. (I - Free Report) need to pay close attention tot he stock based on moves in the options market lately.  That is because the Dec. 20, 2019 $10.00 Put had some of the highest implied volatiliy of all equit options today.

    What is Implied Volatility?

    Implied volatility shows how much movement the market is expecting in the future. Options with high levels of implied volatility suggest that investors in the underlying stocks are expecting a big move in one direction or the other. It could also mean there is an event coming up soon that may cause a big rally or a huge sell-off. However, implied volatility is only one piece of the puzzle when putting together an options trading strategy.

    Click HERE for further details from Zacks

    Shares closed today $22.95/share

     

    Welcome New Member
    Posted: 19 September 2019

    We are pleased to Welcome the following new member to the Intelsat Retirees and Alumni Association:

    September 2019

    Gail Yamazaki

     

    Why Intelsat Stock Dropped 16% This Morning
    Posted: 3 September 2019

    Rich Smith (TMFDitty)
    Sep 3, 2019 at 12:23PM

    What happened

    This morning, without warning -- and without any news relating to the company specifically, it seems -- shares of satellite communications company Intelsat (NYSE:I) abruptly plunged 16%.

    The stock has since recovered somewhat, and as of 11:40 a.m. EDT, it's trading down "only" 7%. But that still leaves investors scratching their heads: Why did Intelsat stock fall in the first place?

    Click HERE for further details from The Motley Fool

    Shares closed today $19.39/share

     

    C-Band Alliance Issues Response to Eutelsat Decision to Withdraw from Alliance
    Posted: 3 September 2019

    Washington, D.C., September 3, 2019 – The C-Band Alliance notes the statement of Eutelsat issued today to withdraw from the Alliance. The CBA remains committed to delivering its expeditious, market-based proposal and the departure of Eutelsat does not impact the CBA’s ability to do so.  The remaining members of the CBA, which represent approximately 95% of the affected revenues of the US C-band market, are aligned and committed to the process of engaging with the FCC on the proposal of rapidly clearing C-band spectrum to support the deployment of 5G services in the U.S.

    Click HERE for further details from Intelsat

     

    Intelsat (I) Reports Q2 Loss, Tops Revenue Estimates
    Posted: 30 July 2019

    July 30, 2019, 07:55:09 AM EDT By Zacks Equity Research, Zacks.com

    Intelsat (I) came out with a quarterly loss of $1.05 per share versus the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of $0.95. This compares to loss of $0.38 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.

    This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of -10.53%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this communications and satellite company would post a loss of $0.61 per share when it actually produced a loss of $0.87, delivering a surprise of -42.62%.

    Click HERE for further details from NASDAQ.com

    Click HERE from Intelsat.com

    Shares closed today $21.86/share

     

    Did the Underlying Business Drive Intelsat's (NYSE: I) Lovely 712% Share Price Gain?
    Posted: 19 July 2019

    Simply Wall St. - July 19, 2019

    For us, stock picking is in large part the hunt for the truly magnificent stocks. You won't get it right every time, but when you do, the returns can be truly splendid. One bright shining star stock has been Intelsat S.A. (NYSE:I), which is 712% higher than three years ago. In the last week the share price is up 6.2%.

    It really delights us to see such great share price performance for investors.

    See our latest analysis for Intelsat

    Given that Intelsat didn't make a profit in the last twelve months, we'll focus on revenue growth to form a quick view of its business development. When a company doesn't make profits, we'd generally expect to see good revenue growth. Some companies are willing to postpone profitability to grow revenue faster, but in that case one does expect good top-line growth.

    Click HERE for further details from Yahoo Finance

    Shares closed today $20.94/share

     

    Hedge Funds Have Never Been This Bullish on Intelsat (I)
    Posted: 11 June 2019

    Before we spend days researching a stock idea we'd like to take a look at how hedge funds and billionaire investors recently traded that stock. S&P 500 Index ETF (SPY) lost 2.6% in the first two months of the second quarter. Ten out of 11 industry groups in the S&P 500 Index lost value in May. The average return of a randomly picked stock in the index was even worse (-3.6%). This means you (or a monkey throwing a dart) have less than an even chance of beating the market by randomly picking a stock. On the other hand, the top 20 most popular S&P 500 stocks among hedge funds not only generated positive returns but also outperformed the index by about 3 percentage points through May 30th. In this article, we will take a look at what hedge funds think about Intelsat S.A. (NYSE:I).

    Click HERE for further details from Yahoo Finance

    Shares closed today $19.40/share

     

    David M. Tolley to Join Intelsat as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Offer
    Posted: 29 May 2019

    LUXEMBOURG--()--Intelsat, S.A. (NYSE: I) today announced the appointment of David M. Tolley as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, effective June 3, 2019.

    Tolley will report to Intelsat’s Chief Executive Officer, Stephen Spengler, and oversee Intelsat’s global finance organization. He will serve on Intelsat’s Management Committee and be based in the company’s U.S. administrative headquarters in McLean, Virginia.

    Tolley brings over 20 years of financial experience to Intelsat. He most recently served as the Chief Financial Officer of OneWeb where he led the global finance organization and served on the company’s Executive Committee. Prior to OneWeb, Tolley served as a Senior Managing Director in the Private Equity Group at Blackstone (NYSE: BX) where he led satellite services strategy and investing and served on the Private Equity Investment Committee. During that period, he was Chairman of the Board of Directors of NewSkies Satellites N.V. and led the public-to-private acquisition, re-IPO and ultimate divestiture of NewSkies to SES S.A. Prior to Blackstone, he was a Vice President at Morgan Stanley in the Investment Banking Division, where he provided banking and advisory services to established and emerging companies in the broader communications sector.

    Click HERE for further details from Business Wiree

    Shares closed today $19.10/share

     

    Why Intelsat Stock Soared 29.2% in April
    Posted: 10 May 2019

    Keith Noonan (TMFNoons)
    May 10, 2019 at 11:47AM

    What Happened

    Shares of Intelsat (NYSE:I) rose 29.2% in April, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence. The stock gained ground early in the month thanks to favorable analyst coverage and continued to gain ground despite the failure of the company's 29e satellite.

    Intelsat stock has been on an incredible run thanks to the increasing likelihood that the company will be able to use its satellite systems to provide bandwidth used by 5G internet networks. Making this a reality hinges on getting the government to open up portions of the C-band wireless spectrum for commercial use, and it appears that things are moving in that direction.

    Click HERE for further details from The Motley Fool

    Shares closed today $21.15/share

     

    Option Traders Expect Huge Moves in Intelsat (I) Stock
    Posted: 10 May 2019

    Investors in Intelsat S.A.(I -Free Report) need to pay close attention to the stock based on moves in the options market lately.  That is because the Sep. 20, 2019 $16.00 Call had some of the highest implied volatility of all equity ooptions today.

    What is Implied Volatility?

    Implied volatility shows how much movement the market is expecting in the future. Options with high levels of implied volatility suggest that investors in the underlying stocks are expecting a big move in one direction or the other. It could also mean there is an event coming up soon that may cause a big rally or a huge sell-off. However, implied volatility is only one piece of the puzzle when putting together an options trading strategy.

    Click HERE for further details from Zacks

     

    Intelsat Announces First Quarter 2019 Results
    Posted: 30 April 2019

    • First quarter net loss attributable to Intelsat S.A. of $120.6 million
    • First quarter Adjusted EBITDA of $380.3 million or 72 percent of revenue
    • March 31, 2019 contracted backlog of $7.9 billion
    • 2019 Financial Guidance Updated for Financial Impact of Intelsat 29e Satellite Failure

    Intelsat S.A., I, +127%, operator of the world's first Globalized Network and leader in integrated satellite solutions, today announced financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2019.

    In the first quarter of 2018, we adopted the provisions of the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC 606”). All financial results presented in our first quarter 2019 quarterly report are presented on a comparable basis to 2018 reported results, unless noted otherwise.

    Intelsat reported total revenue of $528.4 million and net loss attributable to Intelsat S.A. of $120.6 million for the three months ended March31, 2019.

    Click HERE for further details from MarketWatch.

    Click HERE from Intelsat.com

     

    Intelsat Still Searching for Cause of IS-29e Loss, Replacement Satellite TBD
    Posted: 30 April 2019

    WASHINGTON — Intelsat estimates the in-orbit failure of its first high-throughput satellite will cost the company between $45 million and $50 million in revenue for the year.

    Luxembourg and Virginia-based Intelsat said it is still working with Boeing on understanding why the uninsured, three-year-old Intelsat 29e satellte it built sprung a fuel leak three weeks ago and stopped communicating shortly after. The investigation has so far indicated that Intelsat 298e's failure is unrelated to the propulsion issues with Intelsat 33e, a Boeing-built satellite that launched in 2016, Steve Spengler, Intelsat's chief executive, said Aril 30.

    Click HERE for further details from SPACENEWS.

     

    Here's What Hedge Funds Think about Intelsat S.A. (I)
    Posted: 26 April 2019

    While the market driven by short-term sentiment influenced by uncertainty regarding the future of the interest rate environment in the US, declining oil prices and the trade war with China, many smart money investors kept their optimism regarding the current bull run in the fourth quarter, while still hedging many of their long positions. However, as we know, big investors usually buy stocks with strong fundamentals, which is why we believe we can profit from imitating them. In this article, we are going to take a look at the smart money sentiment surrounding Intelsat S.A. (NYSE: I)

    Click HERE for further details from Yahoo.com/Insider Monkey

    Shares closed today $20.44/share

     

    Here's What Hedge Funds Think about Intelsat S.A. (I)
    Posted: 18 April 2019

    LUXEMBOURG--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

    Customers Transitioning to Restoration Capacity

    Intelsat S.A. (NYSE:I) announced today that the anomaly previously disclosed on April 10, 2019 has resulted in the total loss of the Intelsat 29e spacecraft.  A failure review board has been convened with the satellite's manufacturer, Boeing, to complete a comprehensive analysis of the cause of the anomaly.

    Late on April 7, the Intelsat 29e propulsion system experienced damage that caused a leak of the propellant on board the satellite resulting in a service disruption to customers on the satellite. While working to recover the satellite, a second anomaly occurred, after which all efforts to recover the satellite were unsuccessful.

    Click HERE for further details from BusinessWire

    Shares closed today $19.47/share

     

    Intelsat Reports Intelsat 29e Service Outage
    Posted: 10 April 2019

    Intelsat, S.A. (NYSE:I) announced today a service outage on the Intelsat 29e satellite which continues to affect maritime, aeronautical and wireless operator customers in the Latin America, Caribbean and North Atlantic regions. Late on 7 April, the Intelsat 29e propulsion system experienced damage that caused a leak of the propellant on board the satellite resulting in a service disruption to customers on the satellite. While working to restore the services, on 9 April, the satellite experienced a second anomaly that caused a loss of communications to the satellite.

    Click HERE for further details from Yahoo.com

     

    Why Intelsat Stock Fell 35% in March
    Posted: 4 April 2019

     

    Shares of Intelsat (NYSE: I) declined 35% in March, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence, amid concerns over government plans that could significantly hamper the company's ability to monetize its wireless spectrum assets.

    To be sure, Intelsat lost nearly a quarter of its value between March 4 and March 5, 2019, alone, after Politico highlighted a proposal for the government to potentially nationalize so-called 5G networks. What's more, separate reports from TheFly.com around the same time indicated that several U.S. Congress members were mulling over whether to prevent the FCC from allowing Intelsat and other foreign satellite companies to sell their access to 200 megahertz of C-band spectrum to wireless carriers.

    Click HERE for further details from NASDAQ/The Motely Fool

    Shares closed down today $16.83/share

     

    Intelsat Takes Flight After Analyst Upgrade
    Posted: 3 April 2019

    Intelsat shares surge after receiving an upgrade from JPMorgan to overweight from neutral, and a one-year price-target boost to $27.

    By M. Corey Goldman
    Apr 3, 2019 10:34 AM EDT

    Shares of satellite telecom company Intelsat (I) took off Wednesday after the company received an upgrade from JPMorgan and a boost to its target price on expectations its joint proposal with the so-called C-Band Alliance to use spectrum for mobile devices will win approval.  Intelsat stock jumped almost 9%, gaining $1.35 to $16.70, after JPMorgan analyst Philip Cusick upgraded the company to overweight from neutral and raised his one-year target price on the stock $27.

    Click HERE for further details from The Street.

    Shares closed down today $15.40/share


     

    C-Band Alliance Appoints Peter Pitsch to Lead Advocacy and Government Affairs
    Posted: 31 March 2019

    Business Wire 21 March 2019:

    WASHINGTON--(Business Wire)--The C-Band Alliance (CBA), announced today the appointment of Peter Pitsch as Head of Advocacy and Government Affairs. The CBA is the entity that proposes to implement a safe and efficient clearing and repurposing of mid-band ‘C-band’ downlink spectrum to accelerate the deployment of 5G services in the U.S. The CBA was formed by Intelsat, SES, Eutelsat and Telesat, the band’s incumbents and the leading continental U.S. satellite services operators.

    Click HERE for further details from Business Wire.

    Shares closed today $15.62/share

     

    Why Shares of Intelsat Plunged on Thursday
    Posted: 21 March 2019

    Lou Whiteman (TMFldoubleu)
    Mar 21, 2019 at 11:23AM

    Government officials are in no hurry to decide on a controversial proposed spectrum sale.

    So it's been three weeks now since Intelsat (NYSE:I) reported Q4 2018 earnings, and after enjoying a brief post-earnings bump in share price, the company's stock has sunk steadily ever since. In fact, by the close of trading Thursday Intelsat stock was down a whopping 28% from its earnings day share price.

    What happened

    Shares of Intelsat (NYSE:I) traded down more than 12% on Thursday morning after a key government official said the Federal Communications Commission will take its time figuring out how to proceed on a wireless spectrum auction that could generate upward of $40 billion for Intelsat and other satellite providers.

    So what

    Intelsat, along with three other satellite companies authorized to use the C-band airwaves, has proposed selling access to the 200 megahertz range to wireless telecom companies including Verizon. The spectrum could be valued at about $40 billion, but the proposal faces pushback from some lawmakers who would like to nationalize the spectrum, or at least sequester some of the proceeds to promote broadband access in rural areas.

    Click HERE for further details from The Motley Fool.

    Shares closed down today $1.15 at $16.10/share

     

    Is Intelsat's Free Cash Flow About to Dry Up?
    Posted: 18 March 2019

    Rich Smith (TMFDitty)
    Mar 18, 2019 at 9:55AM

    As both capex and cash flow fall, it's starting to look like a race to the bottom.

    So it's been three weeks now since Intelsat (NYSE:I) reported Q4 2018 earnings, and after enjoying a brief post-earnings bump in share price, the company's stock has sunk steadily ever since. In fact, by the close of trading Thursday Intelsat stock was down a whopping 28% from its earnings day share price.

    Why?

    Reviewing Intelsat's Q4 report

    Well, there were rumors that the U.S. Congress might try to nationalize some of the proceeds from its sale of spectrum rights to 5G wireless broadband providers for one thing. That risk could certainly be weighing on the stock. But for the time being, those are only rumors -- and until Congress takes affirmative action to prevent Intelsat from profiting from the spectrum it holds, I'm hesitant to give them much weight.

    Click HERE for further details from The Motley Fool.

    Shares closed down today $1.15 at $16.02/share

     

    Welcome New Members
    Posted: 14 March 2019

    We are pleased to Welcome the following new members to the Intelsat Retirees and Alumni Association:

    February 2019

    Marcia Brayboy, Paul Deshong, Terry Lowe

     

    Intelsat Stock Upgraded: What You Need to Know
    Posted: 7 March 2019

    Rich Smith (TMFDitty)
    Mar 6, 2019 at 3:01PM

    Shares have sold off -- maybe enough to make them worth buying.

    What happened

    Every day, Wall Street analysts upgrade some stocks, downgrade others, and "initiate coverage" on a few more. But do these analysts even know what they're talking about? Today, we're taking one high-profile Wall Street pick and putting it under the microscope...

    Since hitting a high north of $37 in October, ,Intelsat shares have shed more than half their value, falling to a recent patriotic (but disappointing) price of just $17.76. The stock's especially suffered this week, losing 24% between close of trading Friday and close of trading Tuesday, hurt by worries about congressional interference in its plans to sell spectrum to telecommunications companies.

    But then this morning, a miracle happened: Intelsat got upgraded.

    Click HERE for further details from The Motley Fool.

    Shares closed down today at $18.17/share

     

    Why Intelsat Stock Dropped 16% Today
    Posted: 5 March 2019

    Rich Smith (TMFDitty)
    Mar 5, 2019 at 6:33PM

    Thanks largely to Congress, you can now buy a share of Intelsat for just $17.76.

    What happened

    Intelsat (NYSE: I) stock is plunging to earth.

    After losing nearly 10% of its market capitalization yesterday, Intelsat stock dropped a further 15.9% on Tuesday to close at the patriotically disheartening share price of $17.76.The reason(s) appear to be three: First and foremost, Politico just reported that President Trump is downplaying support for a plan that would see the federal government essentially nationalize the provision of 5G wireless services in the United States -- which sounds like good news for private telecom businesses like Intelsat, but actually means there's a plan floating around out there for the government to nationalize 5G!

    So what

    That fact alone probably would have sufficed to put the fear of Uncle Sam into Intelsat investors, but there's more. Several influential lawmakers in Congress, reports The Fly.com, have "fired warning shots" threatening to kill an FCC plan that would permit Intelsat, and other satellite communications companies, to sell access to 200 megahertz of C-band spectrum to wireless carriers -- advancing the cause of 5G in America, while at the same time giving Intelsat a nice infusion of cash.

    Click HERE for further details from The Motley Fool.

    Shares closed down today at $17.76/share

     

    Why Intelsat Stock Popped Today
    Posted: 20 February 2019

    Rich Smith (TMFDitty)
    Feb 20 2019 at 5:55PM

    What happened

    Shares of communication satellite operator Intelsat (NYSE:I) popped more than 13% in early Wednesday trading before settling down to a roughly 11% gain at the end of the trading day.

    Intelsat reported mixed fiscal fourth-quarter and full-year 2018 earnings this morning. On the one hand, the company missed earnings estimates rather badly. Analysts had expected a loss of $0.26 per share for the quarter; Intelsat reported a loss of $0.81 per diluted share, and $0.91 per share pro forma. Sales, on the other hand, came in ever so slightly ahead of expectations -- $542.8 million instead of the $542 million in revenue that analysts had predicted.

    So what

    Intelsat's Q4 sales grew less than 1% year over year, while its GAAP loss increased 8% year over year.

    For the full year, sales grew barely 0.5% (rising from $2.15 billion to $2.16 billion), while losses more than tripled -- from $1.50 per share lost in 2017 to $4.63 per share lost in 2018.

    On the plus side, Intelsat's past promises to rein in capital spending bore fruit on the company's balance sheet. Despite generating $120 million less cash flow last year than it had in 2017, Intelsat succeeded in cutting capital spending by nearly $206 million. As a result, the company's free cash flow (operating cash flow minus capex) ballooned from barely breakeven a year ago to a respectable $88.5 million generated in 2018.

    Click HERE for further details from The Motley Fool.

    Shares closed down today at $24.06/share

     

    Intelsat Announces Fourth and Full-Year 2018 Results
    Posted: 20 February 2019

    • Fourth quarter revenue of $543 million; or $515 million excluding effects of revenue recognition rules (ASC 606)

    • Full-year 2018 revenue of $2,161 million; or $2,058 million excluding effects of ASC 606

    • Fourth quarter net loss attributable to Intelsat S.A. of $111 million;

    • 2018 full-year net loss attributable to Intelsat S.A. of $600 million;

    • Fourth quarter Adjusted EBITDA of $418 million or 77 percent of revenue; $392 million or 76 percent of revenue excluding effects of ASC 606

    • Full-year 2018 Adjusted EBITDA of $1,668 million or 77 percent of revenue; $1,565 million or 76 percent of revenue excluding effects of ASC 606

    • $8.1 billion contracted backlog, inclusive of $1.1 billion in effects of ASC 606, providing visibility for future revenue and cash flow

    • Intelsat issues 2019 Guidance inclusive of effects of ASC 606 Luxembourg, 20 February 2019

    Intelsat S.A. (NYSE: I), operator of the world’s first Globalized Network and leader in integrated satellite solutions, today announced financial results for the three months and full-year ended December 31, 2018.

    Intelsat reported total revenue of $542.8 million and net loss attributable to Intelsat S.A. of $111.3 million for the three months ended December 31, 2018. 

    For the year ended December 31, 2018, Intelsat reported total revenue of $2,161.2 million and net loss attributable to Intelsat S.A. of $599.6 million
    .

    Click HERE for further details from Intelsat.


    Welcome New Members
    Posted: 12 February 2019

    We are pleased to Welcome the following new members to the Intelsat Retirees and Alumni Association:

    February 2019

    Clarisse Davis,
    Claudio Spencer


    Implied Volatility Surging for Intelsat (I) Stock Options
    Posted: 28 January 2019

    Investors in Intelsat S.A. (I - Free Report) need to pay close attention to the stock based on moves in the options market lately. That is because the Sep 20, 2019 $16 Put had some of the highest implied volatility of all equity options today.

    What is Implied Volatility?

    Implied volatility shows how much movement the market is expecting in the future. Options with high levels of implied volatility suggest that investors in the underlying stocks are expecting a big move in one direction or the other. It could also mean there is an event coming up soon that may cause a big rally or a huge sell-off. However, implied volatility is only one piece of the puzzle when putting together an options trading strategy.

    Click HERE for further details from Zacks Equity Research

    Shares closed down today at $22.79/share


    Why Intelsat's Stock Soared 531% Higher in 2018
    Posted: 14 January 2019

    The satellite communications expert lived to fight another day, and that was good enough for a massive bounce in its stock prices

    Anders Bylund (TMFZahrim)
    Jan 14 2019 at 2:45PM

    What happened

    Shares of Intelsat (NYSE:I) gained 531% in 2018, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence. The Luxembourg-based provider of satellite communications services has been fighting off its debt holders by selling more stock while waiting for approval of its crucial next-generation 5G networks.

    So what

    Last year's gains were more of a turnaround effort than an organic win. Intelsat is hoping to launch an innovative combination of satellite- and tower-based communications networks in the near future, but regulatory approvals have been few and far between. Meanwhile, the company is reporting negative earnings and cash flows. So when Intelsat started announcing a steady stream of new customer contracts in the spring of 2018, stock prices skyrocketed on every positive tidbit of news.

    Click HERE for further details from The Motley Fool.

    Shares closed down today at $23.50/share


    Why Intelsat S.A. Stock Fell 14% in December
    Posted: 8 January 2019

    Intelsat stock saw a double-digit decline last month, but it closed out the year up more than 500%.

    Keith Noonan (TMFNoons)
    Jan 8 2019 at 3:39PM

    What happened

    Shares of Intelsat S.A. (NYSE:I) dipped 14% in December, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence. There wasn't any big company-specific news behind the decline, but sell-offs for the broader market still dragged on the otherwise high-flying satellite communications company. 

    Click HERE for further details from The Motley Fool.

    Shares closed down today at $23.34/share


    Intelsat Joins GSMA to Spur Integration of Satellite and Terrestrial Solutions, Create Hybrid Networks, and Advances 5G Development
    Posted: 8 January 2019

    Stronger relationships with mobile operators, ubiquitous broadband services, and hybrid networks will meet fast-growing connectivity demands and fulfill promise of 5G

    January 08, 2019 06:00 AM Easter Standard Time

    LUXEMBOURG --(BUSINESS WIRE)--Intelsat S.A. (NYSE: I), operator of the world's first Globalized Network and leader in integrated satellite communications, announced that it has joined GSMA, the organization representing mobile operators worldwide, to further strengthen the integration of satellite and terrestrial technologies and advance 5G deployments.

    Click HERE for further details from BusinessWire.


    Welcome New Member
    Posted: 8 January 2019

    We are pleased to Welcome the following new member to the Intelsat Retirees and Alumni Association:
    January 2019

    David Meltzer


    Happy New Year 2019!
    Posted: 1 January 2019



    ARCHIVE:
    Prior Years 2018 and Before

    Please click on items below to open up more details further below. (Scroll down the page to see expanded info, after clicking.)
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     Click again to close details on the items to close up.

    Archived News 2018

    Archived News 2017

    Archived News 2016

    Archived News 2015

    Archived News 2014

    Archived News 2013

    Archived News 2012

    Archived News 2011

    Intelsat Announces Quarterly Stock Dividend (Posted: December 11, 2014)
    Intelsat Appoints Stephen Spengler as Deputy Chief Executive Office (Posted: December 11, 2014)
    Lost Contact (Posted: December 6, 2014)
    Welcome New Members (Posted: October 20, 2014)
    Intelsat 30 Launched (Posted: October 17, 2014)
    Welcome New Members (Posted: September 24, 2014)
    IRAA Board of Directors Election 2014 (Posted: September 7, 2014)
    Ask for Your Senior Discounts (Posted: September 7, 2014)
    15th Annual Meeting and Social Gathering (Posted: September 1, 2014)
    Intelsat at 50: One of Satellite's Most Enduring Stories (Posted: September 1, 2014)
    Inside Intelsat's New Tysons Corner Headquarters (Posted: August 30, 2014)
    Japan Intelsat Club (Posted: August 30, 2014)
    Welcome and Goodbye (Posted: August 30, 2014)
    Welcome New Members (Posted: July 29, 2014)
    New Mailing Address (Posted: June 18, 2014)
    IRAA Members: Don't Forget to Vote (Posted: August 18, 2014)
    Intelsat Moves to Tysons (Posted: July 29, 2014)
    EIEIO Gathering - Last One in DC (Posted: May 27, 2014)
    Welcome New Members (Posted: May 19, 2014)
    Welcome New Members (Posted: April 30, 2014)
    Say Au Revoir to Intelsat Building (Posted: April 23, 2014)
    IRAA Annual Dues for 2014-2015 (Posted: April 23, 2014)
    Intelsat Celebrating It's 50th Anniversary (Posted: March 10, 2014)
    Intelsat Upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform at Wells Fargo (Posted: February 6, 2014)
    Two Social Events Planned (Posted: January 31, 2014)
    Intelsat HDQTRS Nominated for Landmark Status (Posted: January 21, 2014)
    Welcome New Members (Posted: January 17, 2014)
    Welcome New MemberPosted: November 30, 2013)
    Satellite Hall of Fame and Museum (Posted: October 24, 2013)
    Welcome New Members (Posted: October 21, 2013)
    New Bulletin Board Page (Posted: October 9, 2013)
     IRAA Annual Meeting & Social Reminder (Posted: September 30, 2013)
    IRAA Website URL and EMail Address (Posted: September 20, 2013)
    Joe Pelton Honored with International Award for Space Efforts (Posted: September 20, 2013)
    Facebook News (Posted: September 20, 2013)
    National Electronics Museum: New Exhibit (Posted: September 20, 2013)
    IRAA Board Election Ballot August 2013 (Posted: August 7, 2013)
    Request for Nominations to the IRAA Board (Posted: June 25, 2013)
    The Future of Intelsat's Old Building and It's Future Home (Posted: June 16, 2013)
    Welcome New Members (Posted: June 16, 2013)
    Intelsat Fiscal Future Bright? (Posted: June 5, 2013)
    Help Us Find These Members (Posted: April 20, 2013)
    14th Annual Meeting of the General Assembly of the IRAA (Posted: April 20, 2013)
    Intelsat IPO Listed on the NYSE (Posted: April 20, 2013)
    New Intelsat Retirees, Alumni and Friends Facebook Page (Posted: April 20, 2013)
    Welcome New Members (Posted: April 20, 2013)
    IRAA Annual Dues for 2013-2014 (Posted: April 20, 2013)
    Board of Director News (Posted: April 20, 2013)
    Intelsat 27 Launch Failure (Posted: April 20, 2013)
    Intelsat is Moving Headquarters from DC/Van Ness to Tysons Corner (Posted: April 20, 2013)
    National Electronics Museum New Exhibit: Satellites Transform Our Lives (Posted: April 20, 2013)
    4th Annual IRA/COMARA & Intelsat Summer Picnic (Posted: April 20, 2013)
    13th Annual Meeting and Social Gathering - Epilogue (Posted: April 20, 2013)
    Website Updates (Posted: April 20, 2013)
    Intelsat 23 Proton Launch Successful (Posted: October 18, 2012)
    2nd Update: 13th Annual Meeting of the IRA & Social Gathering (Posted: October 12, 2012)
    Update: 13th Annual Meeting of the IRA & Social Gathering (Posted: October 9, 2012)
    Welcome New Members (Posted: October 9, 2012)
    Congressman Chris Van Hollen Will Join Us as our Featured Speaker
         at the 13th Annual Meeting (Posted: September 12, 2012)

    13th Annual Meeting of the General Assembly and Social Gathering (Posted: August 30, 2012)
    New Website Launched (Posted: August 30, 2012)
    Intelsat 21 Launch Successful (Posted: August 20, 2012)
    Intelsat 20 Launched Successfully in French Guiana (Posted: August 2, 2012)
    Vote for 3 Directors to IRA Board (Posted: July 31, 2012)
    Intelsat HQ Building Sold for $85 Million (Posted: July 28, 2012)
    Welcome New Members (Posted: July 5, 2012)
    Intelsat 19 Sea Launch Update (Posted: June 27, 2012)
    Request for Nominations to the IRA Board (Posted: June 25, 2012)
    Amendments to the By-Laws (Posted: June 22, 2012)
    IRA Exploring Creation of Facebook Page (Posted: June 20, 2012)
    Intelsat 19 Sea Launch Update (Posted: June15, 2012)
    Intelsat Files for $1.75 Billion IPO (Posted: May 20, 2012)
    Intelsat VI F-3 Recovery 20th Anniversary (Posted May 15, 2012)
    Intelsat 19 Sea Launch Successful - (Posted: April 7, 2012)
    Conny Kullman Elected to SES Board of Directors (Posted: April 7, 2012)
    Intelsat 22 Proton Launch Successful (Posted: March 26, 2012)
    Announcement: 3rd Annual IRA/COMARA Night at Strathmore - (Posted: November 16, 2011)
    Brand Name Rx or Generic? - (Posted: February 6, 2012)
    New Mailing Address (Posted:  September 20, 2011)
    How It Went: 12th Annual Meeting of IRA & Social Gathering - Epilogue (Posted: November 16, 2011)
    Board of Directors Election 2011 (Posted: September 20, 2011)
    12th Annual Meeting of IRA & Social Gathering (Posted: September 20, 2011)
    How It Was: 2nd Annual IRA/COMARA Summer Picnic - (Posted: August 1, 2011)
    ISU Dr. Burton I. Edelson Memorial Lecture (Posted May 11, 2011)
    Announcement - 2nd Annual IRA/COMARA Summer Picnic (Posted: May 8, 2011)
    Satellite Exhibit at the National Electronic Museum (Posted: February 4, 2011)
    Website Update (Posted: February 4, 2011)


     

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    	at javax.security.auth.Subject.doAsPrivileged(Subject.java:549)
    	at org.apache.catalina.security.SecurityUtil.execute(SecurityUtil.java:320)
    	at org.apache.catalina.security.SecurityUtil.doAsPrivilege(SecurityUtil.java:260)
    	at org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationFilterChain.internalDoFilter(ApplicationFilterChain.java:237)
    	at org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationFilterChain.access$000(ApplicationFilterChain.java:55)
    	at org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationFilterChain$1.run(ApplicationFilterChain.java:191)
    	at org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationFilterChain$1.run(ApplicationFilterChain.java:187)
    	at java.security.AccessController.doPrivileged(Native Method)
    	at org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationFilterChain.doFilter(ApplicationFilterChain.java:186)
    	at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardWrapperValve.invoke(StandardWrapperValve.java:218)
    	at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardContextValve.invoke(StandardContextValve.java:110)
    	at org.apache.catalina.authenticator.AuthenticatorBase.invoke(AuthenticatorBase.java:506)
    	at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardHostValve.invoke(StandardHostValve.java:169)
    	at org.apache.catalina.valves.ErrorReportValve.invoke(ErrorReportValve.java:103)
    	at org.apache.catalina.valves.AccessLogValve.invoke(AccessLogValve.java:962)
    	at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardEngineValve.invoke(StandardEngineValve.java:116)
    	at org.apache.catalina.connector.CoyoteAdapter.service(CoyoteAdapter.java:466)
    	at org.apache.coyote.ajp.AjpProcessor.process(AjpProcessor.java:197)
    	at org.apache.coyote.AbstractProtocol$AbstractConnectionHandler.process(AbstractProtocol.java:637)
    	at org.apache.tomcat.util.net.JIoEndpoint$SocketProcessor.run(JIoEndpoint.java:316)
    	at java.util.concurrent.ThreadPoolExecutor.runWorker(ThreadPoolExecutor.java:1149)
    	at java.util.concurrent.ThreadPoolExecutor$Worker.run(ThreadPoolExecutor.java:624)
    	at org.apache.tomcat.util.threads.TaskThread$WrappingRunnable.run(TaskThread.java:61)
    	at java.lang.Thread.run(Thread.java:748)