EchoStar Corporation the parent company of DISH, Sling TV, Boostmobile, and more, has announced MDA Space Ltd. as the prime contractor for its new low Earth orbit (LEO) non-terrestrial network (NTN) direct-to-device (D2D) satellite constellation. The initial contract, valued at approximately $1.3 billion (C$1.8 billion), covers the design, manufacturing, and testing of over 100 software-defined MDA AURORA™ D2D satellites. The total cost is expeccted to be $5 billion when done. The full constellation is planned to include 200 satellites initially, with potential expansion to thousands based on market demand, aiming to deliver global talk, text, and broadband services directly to standard 5G NTN-compatible handheld devices.
The partnership leverages EchoStar’s extensive experience in satellite communications and its U.S.-based terrestrial 5G Open RAN network. “Our satellite expertise, combined with our global S-band/2GHz spectrum rights and robust service delivery capabilities, positions EchoStar to lead in the growing space economy,” said Hamid Akhavan, president and CEO of EchoStar. The constellation will serve consumer, enterprise, public safety, and government sectors across the U.S., Europe, and beyond, utilizing EchoStar’s exclusive 2GHz spectrum licenses, which hold the highest ITU priority.
MDA Space, a trusted partner in the global space industry, will design and manufacture the satellites at its dedicated facility. “EchoStar’s selection of our MDA AURORA™ D2D satellites reflects confidence in our expertise, innovative products, and expanding production capacity,” said Mike Greenley, CEO of MDA Space. The satellites will be fully compliant with 3GPP NTN standards, enabling seamless messaging, voice, broadband data, and video services on existing 5G devices without modifications. The constellation will also support connectivity for sensors and mobile vehicles.
EchoStar’s investment in the 2GHz band, exceeding $13 billion since 2012, underscores its commitment to D2D connectivity. This includes acquisitions of DBSD and TerreStar, which held 2GHz FCC licenses, and the operation of three S-band geostationary satellites, one requiring costly retrofitting. EchoStar has also driven standardization efforts for the 2GHz band within 3GPP for 5G NTN applications. The company holds exclusive 2GHz licenses in the U.S. (AWS-4), 30 MHz in Europe, 40 MHz in Canada through partnerships, 20 MHz in Mexico, and 30 MHz in Brazil. Texting services using 2GHz are already operational in Europe, with North American services planned for early 2026 via existing geostationary satellites.
The LEO constellation, utilizing up to 25×20 MHz of AWS-4/S-band 2GHz frequencies, is expected to cost $5 billion in total. Satellite delivery is scheduled for 2028, with commercial services launching in 2029. This initiative marks a significant step toward EchoStar’s vision of seamless global connectivity, integrating satellite and terrestrial networks to deliver innovative communication solutions worldwide.
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