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Intelsat

Intelsat is a pioneering satellite communications company founded in 1964 as an intergovernmental consortium — the International Telecommunications Satellite Organization — that operated the world's first commercial communications satellites.

McLean, United States Est. 1964 Commercial
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Founded
1964
Headquarters
McLean, United States
Stage
Acquired
Ownership
Subsidiary of SES
Quick Facts
Country
United States
Founded
1964
Type
commercial
Status
acquired

About Intelsat

Updated 2026-09-05

Intelsat is a pioneering satellite communications company founded in 1964 as an intergovernmental consortium — the International Telecommunications Satellite Organization — that operated the world's first commercial communications satellites. Intelsat was privatized in 2001 and became the world's largest GEO satellite operator by fleet size, serving broadcasters, telecommunications companies, governments, and enterprises across 200+ countries.

The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May 2020 amid the decline in video broadcasting revenue and the costs of clearing C-band spectrum for 5G (for which it received a $3.97 billion FCC payment). SES completed the acquisition of Intelsat in May 2024, creating a combined operator with over 100 satellites and approximately $3.5 billion in combined annual revenue, substantially consolidating the GEO communications satellite market.

Key People

David Wajsgras (CEO)

Team

David Wajsgras (CEO)

Signals

Verification
Verified 2026-09-05

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Frequently asked about Intelsat

Quick answers to the questions readers most often search for.

When was Intelsat founded?
Intelsat was founded in 1964 in United States.
Where is Intelsat headquartered?
Intelsat is headquartered in McLean, United States.
What does Intelsat do?
Intelsat is a pioneering satellite communications company founded in 1964 as an intergovernmental consortium — the International Telecommunications Satellite Organization — that operated the world's first commercial communications satellites. Intelsat was privatized in 2001 and became the world's largest GEO satellite …
Was Intelsat acquired?
Intelsat has been acquired by SES.
What sector does Intelsat operate in?
Intelsat works in satellite communications and Satellite operators.

Sources

The structured fields on this page (founding year, location, sector, status, listing) and the profile text are drawn from the sources below. How profiles are drafted and checked is described in our methodology.

  1. Official website (intelsat.com)
  2. Company LinkedIn page
  3. Wikidata / Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-09-05

Data Accuracy Notice: Information about Intelsat is compiled from publicly available sources including company websites, press releases, regulatory filings, and industry reports. Data is reviewed periodically but may not reflect the most recent developments.

Matched to SEC EDGAR, LEI register, OpenCorporates, Wikidata · data pass September 5, 2026
Editorial owner: Dr. Donovan, Editor-in-Chief Company representatives may submit corrections This page does not constitute an endorsement or affiliation Learn about our data methodology