Expansive plans for deployment of Ka-band satellites are rapidly changing, but have not disappeared – despite the well-publicized cancellation of some systems.  There will be a dramatic increase in Ka-band capacity by the middle of this decade.  W.L. Pritchard & Co., L.C. has completed a survey of Ka-band systems that separates the players with in-orbit or contracted satellite capacity from those who are still in the planning stages, and outlines the wide range of approaches being taken by operators around the world.  We profile the implications of this survey for the occupied, assigned and newly available orbital locations.

In May 1997, the FCC licensed 14 applicants to launch and operate geostationary satellite systems at 49 orbital locations.  In August 2001, the Commission granted additional licenses to 11 companies to operate satellite systems at 34 orbital locations.  Some of the applicants have changed ownership or are in negotiation.  Some applicants have met their mandatory implementation milestones, and the FCC has terminated other licenses.

This report untangles the web of applicants, milestone dates and orbital locations, to profile the current status of these systems and the resulting planned and existing capacity in each continental area.  To this we add data on actual and planned government and commercial systems from Asia, Canada and Europe.  The report identifies existing and planned systems serving the Americas, the Asia Pacific and European regions.

Ka-band satellites have been filed with the ITU for over 700 geostationary orbital locations; in some cases there are multiple applicants for one location.  This report matches these locations against capacity already in orbit or under contract, and identifies committed locations and coverage areas, and filings without a current strategic approach.  The report also identifies filings for non-geostationary satellites.