SpaceX, Kuiper Challenging Viasat/Inmarsat Deal

Viasat's planned $7.3 billion purchase of Inmarsat (see 2111080038) got challenges from SpaceX and Amazon's Kuiper, in docket 22-153 filings Monday. Citing what it said was Viasat's "ongoing willful and unlawful operation" of earth stations in the Ka band without FCC approval, SpaceX urged the FCC to deny approving the transaction. The FCC "can no longer allow this issue to linger unresolved as Viasat continues to apply for more licenses and even entire satellite systems while blatantly flouting conditions the Commission placed on Viasat’s existing licenses," it said. SpaceX filed a complaint with the FCC Enforcement Bureau a year ago about the earth stations being used to provide mass market residential and in-flight Wi-Fi services without first getting coordination agreements from non-geostationary fixed satellite service operators that have priority protection. The deal violates agency rules against holding multiple dormant satellite authorizations in the same frequency band, given Viasat's authorization for its as-yet unbuilt V-band system and a modification application for that system pending, while Inmarsat has a pending application to operate V-band satellites, Kuiper said. It said any approval should be conditioned on one of the applicants surrendering or withdrawing a V-band license or application. Viasat didn't comment.