EchoStar Corporation has selected MDA Space Ltd. as the prime contractor for its new $5 billion low Earth orbit (LEO) non-terrestrial network (NTN) satellite constellation, aimed at delivering global direct-to-device (D2D) connectivity. The initial $1.3 billion contract covers the design, manufacturing, and testing of over 100 software-defined MDA AURORA™ D2D satellites, part of a planned 200-satellite first phase, with potential expansion to thousands.
Targeting commercial service in 2029, the constellation will operate in the AWS-4/S-band (2GHz) using up to 25×20 MHz of spectrum and fully comply with 3GPP NTN standards, enabling it to deliver talk, text, broadband, and video services directly to unmodified 5G NTN-compliant devices, as well as support sensor and mobile vehicle connectivity.
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