August 29, 2005: Intelsat and PanAmSat announced that the two companies would merge in a $6.4 billion deal that would create the world’s largest satellite carrier with 51 spacecraft in orbit, eight teleports and more than 20 affiliated international gateways connected by 40,000 miles of fiber,” reaching 99% of the world’s populated regions. In the debt-financed, private-equity deal, Intelsat paid $25 per share in cash, or approximately $3.2 billion, and assumed an equal amount of PanAmSat’s debt. The merger was approved by the US Department of Justice on May 26, 2006 and by the Federal Communications Commission on June 19, 2006. It became final on July 3

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The SSPI Satellite Timeline is the first interactive site on the Web to chronicle the rich and diverse history of the commercial satellite industry. Launched in October 2007 – the 50th anniversary of Sputnik – the Timeline is a learning tool for satellite professionals, students, the news media and the innovative companies that make up the industry