SiriusXM Commissions Maxar to Build Two New Satellites, SXM-11 and SXM-12
The Maxar-built SXM-11 and SXM-12 satellites for SiriusXM as shown in an artist rendering. Credit: Maxar.
Maxar Technologies (NYSE:MAXR) (TSX:MAXR) and SiriusXM (NASDAQ: SIRI) today announced a new agreement commissioning Maxar to build and deliver two new geostationary communications satellites for SiriusXM.
The SXM-11 and -12 satellite orders increase the total number of spacecraft in development for SiriusXM by Maxar to four, following the 2021 agreement for the construction of SXM-9 and -10.
“This investment reaffirms our commitment to satellite content delivery systems and cutting-edge technology,” said Bridget Neville, SiriusXM’s Senior Vice President of Satellite and Terrestrial Engineering and Operations. “SXM-11 and -12, along with SXM-9 and -10, will allow us to innovate and improve our service offerings for subscribers and will extend the continuous and reliable delivery of our audio entertainment content.”
“This agreement, in combination with SXM-9 and -10 ordered last year, shows one of Maxar’s greatest strengths—the advantage of performance at scale,” said Chris Johnson, Maxar’s Senior Vice President of Space. “These satellites will provide more capability to SiriusXM’s fleet, including an expanded service area and higher service quality. We continue to push for new ways to expand capability for commercial geostationary customers, keeping our leadership in this market secure and growing.”
There are more than 150 million SiriusXM-equipped vehicles on the road today that rely on SiriusXM’s proprietary satellite network, which is also a key delivery mechanism for the company’s 360L platform. SiriusXM with 360L combines satellite and streaming to ensure the best possible coverage across the U.S. and Canada and the best customer experience. SiriusXM also offers a suite of satellite-delivered Marine and Aviation services that provide pilots and boaters important weather data and information directly to their cockpits.
SXM-11 and -12 will be twin high-powered digital audio radio satellites, built on Maxar’s proven 1300-class platform at the company’s manufacturing facilities in Palo Alto and San Jose, California. Maxar has been building satellites for SiriusXM for more than two decades, including the first-generation Sirius satellites launched in 2000; the second-generation Sirius satellites launched in 2009 and 2013; and the company’s current third-generation satellites, the first one of which started service in 2021. The delivery of SXM-11 and -12 will bring the number of Maxar-built spacecraft for SiriusXM to 13.