Crypto
$6.1 Billion in FCC Payments for Satellite Operators Eutelsat and SES
The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is set to pay satellite operators Eutelsat and SES $6.1 billion in incentive payments for clearing portions of the C-band spectrum.
Eutelsat will receive approximately $504 million, while SES will pocket roughly $5.6 billion.
This is not the first time satellite operators have been compensated for vacating spectrum; a 2020 C-band auction generated $9.7 billion in accelerated payments to primarily benefit SES and Intelsat.
The FCC approved a new auction framework for 160 MHz of upper C-band spectrum on July 22, triggering these latest incentive payments.