Core Insights - EchoStar Corporation is launching a new low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation to enhance direct-to-device (D2D) connectivity globally, with an estimated total cost of $5 billion, bringing its total investment in non-terrestrial network (NTN) satellite connectivity to over $18 billion since 2012 [1][5][8] - The new satellite network will cover all 350 million Americans and over 7 billion people worldwide, providing services such as talk, text, and broadband directly to standard 5G NTN handheld devices [1][2] - MDA Space Ltd. has been selected as the prime contractor for the project, with an initial contract valued at approximately $1.3 billion for the design, manufacturing, and testing of over 100 software-defined satellites [1][2] Company Overview - EchoStar's Hughes communications division has over 60 years of experience in satellite and space technology, positioning the company uniquely to execute the new LEO constellation [2] - The company holds exclusive licenses in the 2GHz band in the U.S. and has additional licenses in Europe, Canada, Mexico, and Brazil, enabling it to provide mobile satellite services [3] - EchoStar has invested significantly in the 2GHz band, including the acquisition of DBSD and TerreStar, and has led efforts to standardize the band for 5G applications [2][3] Technical Specifications - The LEO constellation will utilize up to 25x20 MHz of AWS-4/S-band 2GHz frequencies and will comply with newly created NTN and 3GPP standards, allowing for a range of services including messaging, voice, broadband data, and video [4] - Delivery of the satellites is planned for 2028, with commercial services expected to start in 2029 [5]