Satellite company EchoStar chooses MDA Space for the initialization of the world's first Open RAN broadband Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellation.
EchoStar's New LEO Satellite Constellation Takes Shape
EchoStar Corporation's ambitious plan for a non-terrestrial network (NTN) low Earth orbit (LEO) direct-to-device (D2D) satellite constellation is moving forward with MDA Space as the prime contractor. The initial contract, valued at approximately $1.3 billion, covers the design and construction of over 100 software-defined MDA AURORA™ D2D satellites, with options to expand beyond 200 satellites and increase the contract value to about $2.5 billion.
The LEO constellation, set to be delivered by 2028 and launch commercial service in 2029, will be fully compliant with the newly established 3GPP 5G NTN standards. This compliance ensures seamless interoperability between the satellite network and existing terrestrial 5G cellular networks, making it possible for all standard 5G mobile phones and IoT devices configured with these standards to connect directly to the LEO satellites without any modifications.
EchoStar's strategic partnership with MDA Space, a company with four LEO constellation contracts in the past three years, positions EchoStar as a major player in the NTN market. The constellation will provide messaging, voice, broadband data, and video services upon launch, connecting to an array of sensors and mobile vehicles.
Key features of the LEO constellation include the use of up to 500 MHz of AWS-4/S-band 2GHz spectrum, globally significant spectrum with the highest ITU priority rights held by EchoStar across regions including the U.S., Europe, Canada, Mexico, and Brazil. The MDA AURORA™ satellites are software-reconfigurable, allowing real-time beam control and geographic targeting for connectivity, providing advantages over older or less flexible systems. Expected data speeds will exceed 100 Mbps with multiple simultaneous connections for users.
EchoStar's satellite expertise, dating back over 60 years through its Hughes communications division, and its U.S.-based terrestrial 5G Open RAN network uniquely position the company to execute on this large-scale wideband LEO constellation. The company has already begun delivering texting service in Europe using 2GHz and holds exclusive licenses in the 2GHz band in the U.S. (AWS-4), Europe, Canada, Mexico, and Brazil.
In North America, EchoStar will launch a similar service in the first half of 2026 with its existing GEO satellites. The LEO constellation is estimated to cost $5 billion and will consist of a full initial configuration of 200 satellites, with future growth to thousands as demand requires. Since 2012, EchoStar has invested well over $13 billion in the 2GHz band, including the acquisition of DBSD and TerreStar, who held 2GHz FCC licenses and three S-band GEO satellites.
With this new LEO constellation, EchoStar aims to provide global D2D service integrated with terrestrial connectivity to everyone, targeting consumer, enterprise, public safety, and government sectors globally. The company's vision is to revolutionise the way people communicate and access data, setting a new standard for satellite-based 5G connectivity.
- The collaboration between EchoStar and MDA Space, a company with experiences in space-and-astronomy and technology, will enable them to deliver a LEO satellite constellation capable of supporting science, finance, and various industries through messaging, voice, broadband data, and video services.
- The software-reconfigurable MDA AURORA™ satellites, a part of EchoStar's LEO constellation, will offer advantages in the field of technology, as they ensure real-time beam control and geographic targeting for connectivity, surpassing older or less flexible systems with expected data speeds exceeding 100 Mbps.
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