FCC Grants Loral Cyberstar Broadband Satellite Applications

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) granted applications filed by Loral CyberStar, Inc. to launch and operate two satellites in the geostationary-satellite orbit to provide fixed-satellite service (FSS) in the Ka-band. Specifically, Loral is authorized to launch and operate Orion 11 at the 67°W, and to launch and Orion 12 at the 126.5°E. The applications were originally filed separately by Orion Network Systems, Inc., and its wholly owned subsidiary, Orion Asia Pacific Corporation, which Loral subsequently acquired. The dates by which Loral’s satellites must be “brought into use” to protect the date priority of the U.S. ITU filings for its orbital locations are June and July 2005, respectively. The license is granted for a term of 10 years from the date the satellites have been successfully placed into orbit and the operations conform to the terms and conditions of the FCC authorization.

Loral Cyberstar will operate Orion 11 and Orion 12 satellites in the 28.35-28.6 GHz and 29.25-30.0 GHz bands for uplink transmissions, and the 18.55-18.8 GHz, 19.45-19.7 GHz and 19.7-20.20 GHz bands for downlink transmissions. Each satellite will have 32 active transponders, each having a usable bandwidth of 114 megahertz. 

Orion Network’s original application requested authorization to add a Ka-band payload to a pending Ku-band application, and to operate this hybrid satellite at the 127°W orbit location. Similarly, Orion Asia asked for authority to add Ka-band capacity to a pending Ku-band application, and to operate this hybrid satellite at the 126°E orbit location. Discrepancies arose between the requested Ku-band orbit locations and the requested Ka-band orbit locations, during the period the applications were pending. As a result, the FCC deferred action on the applications until Orion resolved the discrepancies. Orion subsequently notified the FCC that they intended to construct, launch and operate stand-alone Ka-band satellites, rather than the proposed hybrid satellites. Orion Network sought to operate Ka-band satellite Orion 11 at the 127°W orbit location, and Orion Asia sought to operate Ka-band satellite Orion 12 at the 126.5°E orbit location. Orion Network, later requested a new location, and reached an agreement with other operators with respect to the location reassignment. As a result, the FCC issued a revised orbital assignment plan, reserving the 67°W orbit location for Orion Network.

In July 1996, the FCC adopted a band arrangement for U.S. commercial operations in the Ka-band.

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