SES has selected two US-based satellite manufacturers — Northrop Grumman and Boeing — to deliver four new satellites.
The selection is part of the company’s accelerated C-band clearing plan to meet the Federal Communications Commission’s objectives to roll-out 5G services.

Northrop Grumman will deliver two GeoStar-3 satellites, each equipped with C-band payload to deliver the superior customer experience. The two satellites – SES-18 and SES-19 – will be designed, assembled and tested in Dulles, Virginia.

Boeing Company will deliver a pair of all-electric 702SP satellites. The two satellites – SES-20 and SES-21 – will be manufactured and assembled in Los Angeles, California.

These four C-band satellites will enable SES to clear 280 MHz of mid-band spectrum for 5G use while seamlessly migrating SES’s existing C-band customers.

SES said each satellite will have 10 primary transponders of 36 MHz plus back-up tubes so they can enable the broadcast delivery of digital television to more than 120 million TV homes as well as provide critical data services.

The satellites, when launched in Q3 2022, will be positioned at 103 degrees West, 131 degrees West and 135 degrees West orbital slots. The cost of manufacturing these four satellites is part of the $1.6 billion investment envelope that SES announced in May.

SES said it is committed to investing in America by procuring services and equipment needed for the C-band transition from large and small businesses across the U.S., and partnerships with Northrop Grumman and Boeing Company are cornerstones of that commitment, says Steve Collar, CEO at SES.