Intelsat-SES C-Band Partnering Kept Going After Obvious End, Exec Testifies

If SES and Intelsat were going to go their separate ways during the FCC's C-band clearing proceeding, it would have made the most sense in fall 2019 when the agency announced clearing would be done via public auction, former Intelsat Vice President-Investor Relations Dianne VanBeber testified Thursday in U.S. Bankruptcy Court. Instead, the C-Band Alliance "continued on," she said. SES counsel had her testify about various internal Intelsat emails that, among other things, referred to the "binding" consortium agreement with SES with its 50-50 clearing proceeds split. It was the fourth day of testimony in SES' suit against Intelsat on collapse of their C-band collaboration (see 2202070031). Intelsat outside counsel Michael Glick of Kirkland & Ellis pushed VanBeber on not having ever read the consortium agreement and having no role in its creation or in the C-Band Alliance.