Intelsat Ltd. posted a net loss of $53.4 million in the second quarter 2005 on revenue of $289.8 million, the company reported Aug. 11. In the same period in 2004, Intelsat posted a profit of $18.5 million on revenue of $260.4 million.

Intelsat attributed the revenue improvement in the most recent quarter, which ended June 30, to increased lease services and managed solutions revenues, as well as mobile satellite services revenues acquired as part of the October Comsat General acquisition. Lease services revenue increased $7.4 million to $183, while managed solutions revenue improved by $10 million to $27.7 million. These gains offset a $9.1 million decline in channel services revenue, which fell to $57.2 million.

The net loss in the second quarter 2005 was due to higher operating expenses, which grew from $195.8 million to $238.9 million throughout the period, and higher interest expense resulting from financing the Comsat General acquisition and the repurchase of some Intelsat Holdings Ltd. preferred shares in March.

EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) increased $21.5 million, to $194.5 million, in the most recent quarter.