Luxembourg/ McLean, 13 January 2022. – Intelsat buys two software-defined satellites from Thales Alenia Space, the satellite operator said.
The two satellites will advance Intelsat’s software-defined 5G GEO network and enables “greater agility, flexibility and orchestration across edge, satellite and core”, Intelsat said.
Named Intelsat 41 (IS-41) and Intelsat 44 (IS-44), the two next-generation software-defined satellites are based on the Thales Alenia Space’s Space Inspire product line and are scheduled to be in service in 2025.
They will join two Airbus constructed software-defined satellites, Intelsat 42 (IS-42) and Intelsat 43 (IS-43), which were ordered and announced a year ago.
Like SES, Intelsat expects to cash in several billions of US dollars for the transfer of C-band spectrum to terrestrial 5G mobile operators.
