Loral Skynet said Telstar 13, which shares its satellite platform with EchoStar, has successfully completed in-orbit testing and is in operation at 121 degrees.
The unique satellite sharing arrangement with EchoStar has the satellite TV company operating Ku-Band and Ka-Band payloads on the satellite as EchoStar IX. Loral Skynet owns and operates the C-Band payload, designated Telstar 13.
Telstar 13's 24 C-Band transponders will provide cable programming customers with coverage throughout North America, including Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. Skynet's satellite serving cable programmers, Telstar 7, is operating nearby at 129 degrees.
Pending regulatory approval, Loral has agreed to sell Telstar 13, along with four other North American satellites, to Intelsat.
Meanwhile, Intelsat said the time for appealing the bankruptcy court's approval of its pending purchase of Loral's North American satellite assets has expired, and that no appeal was taken. This milestone could help with closing the transaction as early as the end of the year, Intelsat said.
The deal still needs Federal Communications Commission approval, specifically for transfer of Loral's FCC licenses to Intelsat.
