USSI Global enables SES to complete Phase I C-band transition on time

USSI Global, a turnkey provider of customised broadcast, network and digital signage service worldwide, has supported SES in successfully completing all Phase I accelerated C-band clearing and relocation activities. 

As a provider of global content connectivity solutions, SES has been seeking to clear 280MHz of the C-band spectrum to meet the US Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) objective to roll out 5G services across the US. At Phase I, SES was required to relocate all of its existing services that were received by the Incumbent Earth Stations out of the 3,700-3,820MHz band before the 5 December 2021 deadline set out by FCC. 

SES established a goal of clearing greater than 700 Phase I sites by August, and USSI Global has enabled SES to successfully meet that goal by supporting approximately 600 Phase I Incumbent Earth Stations site transitions. In addition, the FCC validated SES’ Phase I certification in November. 

Bronnie Fisher Fiely, Programme Management Director for SES, said: “USSI Global has extensive experience, which made our partnership for this project a natural fit.

“As a core part of their service plan for this project, USSI Global has accomplished a superior outreach effort for Phase I and is already hard at work on Phase II.” 

USSI Global was selected as the primary vendor to manage and execute the transition of Incumbent Earth Station filtering to mitigate risks of 5G interference. Serving as the lead project management firm, USSI Global was responsible for outreach, IT systems integration, field support management and status reporting. 

The initial outreach phase was “especially valuable”, USSI Global pointed out, as it required intensive advance research to gather and ascertain site-specific details of the Incumbent Earth Stations. USSI Global field technicians later provided turnkey systems design, procurement, installation and commissioning of 5G filters and antennas, among other key hardware components.

USSI Global has already supported the clearing of more than 100 Phase II sites, and will continue to support SES through the remainder of Phase II clearing and transition activities. 

Dave Christiano, CEO of USSI Global, concluded: “As the primary vendor supporting SES, there was a tremendous level of work that had to be completed under tight deadlines. The USSI Global team’s work went a long way towards ensuring a successful transition for SES, and we are particularly proud of our technicians and field service engineers that implemented the work.”