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SES-22 satellite to launch on June 29

The company has ordered six satellites to provide the necessary capacity for its customers, with SES-18, SES-19, SES-20, SES-21 and SES-22 all to be launched in 2022.

Satellite operator SES has announced that its latest unit, the SES-22 is currently being prepared for launch from SpaceX’s Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on June 29, 2022, at 5:04 pm/11:04 pm.

Built by Thales Alenia Space, SES-22 will operate in the 135 degrees West orbital slot and will deliver TV and radio to millions of American homes and provide other critical data transmission services. SES-22 is expected to start operations by early August of 2022.

The launch of SES-22 is part of a broader FCC programme to clear a portion of c-band spectrum to enable wireless operators to deploy 5G services across the contiguous US (CONUS). In response to a mandate from the FCC, satellite operators, such as SES, are required to transition their existing services from the lower 300 MHz to the upper 200 MHz of c-band spectrum to make room for 5G.

SES completed all Phase I transition activities in September of 2021 and is on track for completing Phase II transition activities to meet the FCC’s December 2023 deadline.