Alcatel Halts Plans for SkyBridge

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Alcatel Halts Plans for SkyBridge

More Information:

Alcatel SA is placing plans to develop and deploy SkyBridge on hold. SkyBridge is an 80 satellite low-Earth-orbit (LEO) network which was announced in 1997. Alcatel reported that, due to weak market conditions, it has been unable to raise sufficient financing for the US$6.08 billion (Euro 6.73 billion) system.

The French regulatory authority (Autorité de Régulation des Télécommunications) licensed the SkyBridge constellation in March 2000. In December 2001 the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted a First Report & Order, opening up the Ku-band spectrum (10-18 GHz) to Non Geostationary Orbit (NGSO) satellite systems. This removed the last major regulatory hurdle SkyBridge faced in receiving an FCC license.

Each 1.5-ton spacecraft was to be inserted into a 1,469 km (793 nmi) circular orbit, inclined 54 degrees toward the equator. The satellites were to be evenly distributed over Earth's surface in 20 different orbital planes, with four spacecraft in each plane.

SkyBridge had contracted with Boeing to launch 40 SkyBridge satellites on a combination of Delta launch vehicles beginning in 2002. The agreement called for Boeing to provide two Delta 3 vehicles, each to carry four satellites, and four Delta 4 Medium+ (5,4) vehicles, each to carry eight satellites. Also included in the contract were options for additional launch services as required by SkyBridge. SkyBridge was also contracted with Starsem to launch 32 satellites, using the Soyuz ST launch vehicle. Ten Soyuz ST/Fregat boosters were to deliver three satellites each, and an eleventh flight would fly only 2 satellites. Included in the contract were options for additional launch services as required by SkyBridge. The first launch of a Soyuz ST rocket with a SkyBridge payload was expected in the second half of 2002. Starsem was to have roughly 18 months to complete the launch campaign before the SkyBridge system was to go into operation in 2003. The launch agreements SkyBridge signed with Boeing and Starsem accounted for the launch of 72 of the 80 satellites in the constellation, not counting spares or O&M (replenishment operations and maintenance). The cost of the individual contracts which Boeing and Starsem signed with SkyBridge has not been disclosed. However, SkyBridge said the total price for launching the SkyBridge constellation would reach US$1 billion. The Starsem and Boeing contracts both included provisions which made them equity shareholders of SkyBridge.

SkyBridge LP is a Delaware Limited Partnership headquartered in Bethesda, Md. Alcatel has been the prime contractor and investor for the SkyBridge system. Other companies in the limited partnership include: Loral Space & Communication, EMS Technologies, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Sharp Corporation, and Toshiba Corporation, COM DEV International, THOMSON multimedia, CNES (Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales) and SNECMA, and SRIW (Societe Regionale d'Investissement de Wallonie).

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January 3, 2002