SES announced an agreement with Verizon to expand the US-based mobile carrier’s access to a portion of the C-band (3700-3800 MHz) in important regions across the US earlier than the relocation deadlines set out in the U.S. Federal Communication Commission’s (FCC) C-Band Report and Order.
SES has already completed its Phase I accelerated C-band clearing ahead the first FCC deadline of 5 December 2021, a step in meeting the Commission’s objectives to roll out 5G network services across the US, and as a result earned almost $1 billion in accelerated relocation payments.
To meet the Phase II deadline of 5 December 2023, SES is working to relocate its existing services from the 3700-4000 MHz band and complete equipment changes for Incumbent Earth Stations across the United States, earning an additional $3 billion in accelerated relocation payments.
This new agreement will see SES expand Verizon’s access to the 3700-3800 MHz block in certain markets beyond the 46 Partial Economic Areas cleared in Phase I and earlier than the Phase II accelerated relocation deadline.
SES said it will install filters and other ancillary equipment at about 500 sites in 2022, comparable to the activities executed during Phase I, and will earn up to an additional $170 million from Verizon, subject to delivering the clearing on a timeline agreed to by the parties.
SES said the non-reimbursable costs across the entire C-band clearing project will be $100 million as compared with $80 million announced earlier.
