Global satellite operators SES and Eutelsat have stood by their commitment to invest in emerging markets and have ordered new satellites for the Asia and MENA regions respectively. SES has ordered a new satellite, SES-9, from Boeing to provide…
Global satellite operators SES and Eutelsat have stood by their commitment to invest in emerging markets and have ordered new satellites for the Asia and MENA regions respectively.
SES has ordered a new satellite, SES-9, from Boeing to provide predominantly DTH services to Northeast Asia, South Asia and Indonesia. The satellite, which will also provide maritime communications for vessels in the Indian Ocean, will be positioned at the 108.2E orbital slot, co-located with the existing SES-7 and NSS-11 satellites,
The spacecraft is based on the Boeing 702HP platform and will carry 57 Ku-band transponders. The platform utilises the xenon ion propulsion system (XIPS) for all on-orbit manoeuvring and a chemical bi-propellant system for initial orbit raising. According to Boeing this will substantially reduce the satellite’s launch weight, although the company would not disclose by how much.
SES-9 is slated to be launched in 2015 and while SES recently signed a three launch agreement with SpaceX, the satellite operator has yet to decide whether this satellite will be one of these.
SatelliteFinance understands that SES will not be applying for US Export-Import Bank funding to help finance the construction and launch of the spacecraft.
Meanwhile, Eutelsat has selected Thales Alenia Space to build its Eutelsat-8 West B satellite, to be located 8W. Equipped with 40 Ku- and 10 C-band transponders, the new bird is designed primarily to serve DTH markets in North Africa and the Middle East.
The move is part of Eutelsat’s strategy to bolster the 7/8W video neighbourhood where it sees a rapid rising in the demand for satellite TV. According to consultancy Euroconsult, capacity demand for video services in the region is forecast to grow by 6.8% a year over the coming five years.
The company shares the 7W with Egyptian satellite operator Nilesat and has operated Eutelsat 7 West A there since late 2011. Eutelsat said that it will also redeploy an existing high-power Ku-band satellite to 8W in 2013.
Eutelsat-8 West B is slated to be launched in 2015 although the company has yet to decide on a launch service provider. The company is currently looking at options for financing the satellite but would not comment on whether this included utilising the French export credit agency Coface.
