DirecTV Asks to Keep T10 Flying Through Early 2027

DirecTV is seeking five more years of authorized life from the FCC for its T10 satellite, whose license term expires in September, the company said in a partially redacted FCC International Bureau extension request filed Friday. It said T10 has enough fuel remaining to operate in its orbital slot through February 2027 and then go into a disposal orbit 300 kilometers out from geosynchronous altitude. Dish Network, in challenging DirecTV criticism of opening the 12 GHz band to 5G, noted DirecTV seemingly not planning to replace several aging satellites (see 2208080047), though T10 wasn't mentioned.