Telesat eligible for $189M in FCC spectrum-clearing incentives

Telesat said on July 27 it is preparing to execute a transition plan under the FCC's newly adopted Upper C-band order, which repurposes 160 MHz of spectrum for terrestrial wireless use. Telesat GEO Inc is eligible for roughly $189 million in incentive payments contingent on meeting transition deadlines of December 31, 2030 and June 30, 2031, with satellite operators required to submit formal transition plans by November 5, 2026. The payment would offer a partial cash cushion for a company facing a $1.7 billion debt maturity in December 2026.