News Release
C-Band Alliance Proposes to Clear 300 MHz of Spectrum for Nationwide 5G Deployment
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
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.
As it completed the work necessary to enhance its proposal, the CBA collaborated closely with U.S. broadcasters and programmers that serve nearly 120 million American homes via the C-band. This work included analyzing the potential use by some customers of technologies such as advanced modulation, single format transport and advanced video compression, including High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC). Each of these technologies improves the efficiency of satellite video delivery, allowing the same video content to be transmitted over less spectrum. The CBA proposal commits to implement these technology upgrades at no cost to those satellite customers implementing them.
The CBA remains committed to ensuring that existing customers continue to enjoy the quality of service they experience now, with no interference from 5G services deployed in the future. The CBA member companies will maintain continuity of all current C-band customer services and maintain the value of the continental U.S. C-band video distribution neighborhoods.
In its most recent ex parte filing, the CBA updated its commitments to its customers, including on key elements such as the transition plan, hardware selection, and interference detection processes. The CBA also affirms its commitment to covering all other costs of the transition, such as the required filtering of earth stations throughout the continental U.S. as outlined in previous CBA submissions and the order of eight new satellites from U.S. manufacturers.
The CBA’s proposal is the only one that balances the public interest in rapid 5G network deployment throughout the continental U.S. with the requirement by the FCC and C-band user community to maintain satellite delivery for current services, providing continued operating efficiency and quality.
Speaking on behalf of the
Forward-Looking Statements
The repurposing of up to 300 MHz of C-band spectrum is contingent upon a number of factors which at this stage cannot be guaranteed and their outcome is uncertain, including the following: (i) a final FCC Order that accepts the CBA’s market-based proposal; and (ii) a satisfactory market-based process with potential terrestrial 5G users of the repurposed spectrum.
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View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20191028005753/en/
Source:
Markus Payer
C-Band Alliance
Communications
+1 202 450 0004 (m)
markus.payer@c-bandalliance.com
Richard Whiteing
SES
Investor Relations
+352 710 725 261 (o)
+352 691 898 956 (m)
richard.whiteing@ses.com
Dianne VanBeber
C-Band Alliance
Communications
Intelsat
Vice President Investor Relations
+1 703 559 7406 (o)
+1 703 627 5100 (m)
Dianne.VanBeber@intelsat.com