Loral buys AT&T Skynet: gets early jump on domestic satellite service.(Loral Space and Communications)(Brief Article)

Broadcasting & Cable, September, 1996 by Dickson, Glen

Gets early jump on domestic fixed satellite service With its $712.5 million purchase of AT&T Skynet Satellite Services last week, Loral Space & Communications rapidly accelerated its entry into the domestic fixed satellite market. Last May, domestic service newcomer Loral was awarded two orbital slots by the FCC to launch two hybrid C-band/Ku-band birds, which were scheduled to be operational by 2000.

The Skynet buy gives Loral four existing Telstar satellites, with two new hybrid AT&T birds, Telstar 5 and Telstar 6, planned for launch in 1997 and 1998. (Telstar 5, however, will simply replace the aging C-band Telstar 303 satellite.) "The Skynet buy was a beautiful strategic move by Loral," says Grace Leone, president of reseller EFC Satellite...

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