Loral May Reconfigure ChinaSat 8 For WildBlue

WildBlue Communications has reported that they have reached an agreement with Loral Space & Communications to convert Chinasat 8 into WildBlue 1. The reconfiguration of the satellite will accelerate the satellite availability by 12 months. The satellite will have to be converted to support Ka-band transponders. Loral would not confirm this change of use for the satellite; Loral’s Chairman Bernard Schwartz has said as recently as August 21 that the contract with China Telecommunications Broadcast Satellite Corp. for delivery of Chinasat 8 remained in effect. The U.S. State Department has not yet granted Loral an export license for Chinasat 8.

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