The FCC’s Action 107, which looks after the sale of frequencies covered by the release of the satellite sector’s C-band 3.7 GHz spectrum, continues to break all records.
Two bidding rounds on December 23 took the overall amount of cash on the table to a thumping $69.83 billion.
The position added some $3.5 billion during the two sessions to the previous $66.4 billion already registered as of December 22. January 4 will see another five rounds (Rounds 46-50) taking place.
Also being reported is that OneWeb, the would-be, broadband-by-satellite constellation backed by the UK and India, is contemplating switching its current Florida satellite production line to the UK.
The Mail on Sunday reported that “executives behind OneWeb briefed civil servants” on the merits of moving satellite production from Florida to the UK. Currently, satellite production takes place under a joint-venture between OneWeb and Airbus.
In an interview carried in the same report, Richard Franklin, MD for defence and Space at the UK arm of Airbus, said his company is keen to make the switch. “There’s a real intent and desire in Airbus that manufacturing is done from the UK,” he said.
OneWeb is building its Mark 1 version satellites in Florida at a rate of two craft per day, but there is a plan to start a second-generation version which would include GPS-type functionality. However, first there are obligations to turn out the target 650 satellites needed to get a full service up and running.
Airbus, while headquartered in Toulouse, France, has major British satellite production facilities in Portsmouth and Stevenage in the south of England.
