Telesat Canada's new Anik F2 satellite, a hybrid C/Ku/Ka-Band spacecraft that will be located at 111 degrees, was given permission by the Federal Communications Commission to provide fixed satellite services into the United States.
Anik F2's Ka-Band payload will be among the first to serve the United States and North America in the frequency band. Under the FCC approval, U.S. earth stations can file license applications and modification applications seeking access to Anik F2 in the Ka-Band.
Ka-Band is expected to deliver the next-generation of satellite services, including satellite broadband.
The C-Band and Ku-Band operations aboard Anik F2 also are part of the commission's OK, subject to certain conditions. The move will allow U.S.-licensed earth stations to access Anik F2 without modifying their licenses.
However, Anik F2 is not permitted to provide DTH, DBS, or DARS services to the United States, the FCC said. Anik F2 will launch sometime in the second half of 2003.
In addition, Anik F2 will provide the growth platform for Star Choice, one of two Canadian satellite TV providers.
Meanwhile, Telesat's Nimiq 2 satellite, designed and built by Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems for Telesat, is being prepared for its Dec. 30 lift-of from launch facilities in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. The flight will take place aboard a Russian Proton booster provided by International Launch Services.
Nimiq 2, a high power Ku-Band satellite that will support Canadian DBS service Bell ExpressVu, also has a Ka-Band payload. Those Ka-Band transponders would be the first to serve North America on a commercial basis.
As for satellite TV, more than two million Canadians already subscribe to DTH services. Nimiq 2 will join Nimiq 1, which also supports Bell ExpressVu.
From
SkyReport (Used with Permission)
