SES, a global satellite operator, has announced the successful launch of two American-made satellites, SES-18 and SES-19, designed and assembled by Northrop Grumman. The satellites were launched by SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, United States, on Friday, March 17. These satellites are part of SES’s plan to achieve the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) program to clear C-band spectrum to enable wireless operators to deploy 5G services across the contiguous U.S. (CONUS) while ensuring that SES’s existing customers continue to enjoy uninterrupted TV, radio, and critical data transmission services to millions of Americans.
SES has been clearing 300 MHz of C-band spectrum since 2020 and transitioning customer services to the remaining allocated 200 MHz of spectrum by launching new satellites, building new ground stations, and sending hundreds of satellite earth station technicians across the country to install new filters on customers’ antennas. SES-18 is expected to begin operations in June 2023 at 103 degrees West replacing SES-3 C-band payload and SES-19 will be co-located with SES-22 at 135 degrees West.
Steve Collar, CEO of SES, expressed his gratitude to Northrop Grumman, SpaceX, and all partners who helped make this plan a reality. He said, “We are now on the home stretch in protecting our customers’ broadcasts while freeing crucial 5G spectrum and we look forward to successfully concluding our work well before the FCC’s December 2023 accelerated clearing deadline.”
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