SES and Intelsat Rise as U.S. FCC Advances Spectrum Sale Proposal

U.S. regulators advanced a proposal that could let Intelsat and SES reap billions of dollars in fees from mobile providers using airwaves now devoted to TV broadcasters and cable companies, according to Bloomberg.

The Federal Communications Commission voted 4-0 to seek comments on rules for letting terrestrial services use airwaves long dedicated to the satellite services. The action won’t be final until a second vote, which hasn’t been scheduled. Intelsat and SES say they’re reacting to the FCC’s push for more airwaves for wireless companies to accommodate the so-called internet of things that will enable millions of devices in homes, cars and factories to chatter among themselves.

The companies have proposed to the FCC that they be allowed to devote one-fifth of their airwaves to new uses by mobile network operators. Current users would operate on the remaining four-fifths. Intelsat and SES serve more than 90 percent of the market in the airwaves swath at issue, known as the C Band, Steve Spengler, Intelsat’s chief executive officer, said in an email before the vote.