Telesat, the world’s fourth largest fixed satellite services operator, announced today that its new Nimiq 5 broadcast satellite was placed into commercial service on October 10th.  All available capacity on Nimiq 5 is fully leased to EchoStar Corporation [Nasdaq: SATS] for the life of the satellite and will be used to deliver direct-to-home television, including HDTV and other specialty programming. 

“The entry into service of Nimiq 5 is an important achievement in Telesat’s ongoing expansion,” said Dan Goldberg, President and CEO of Telesat.  “Nimiq 5 will start contributing revenue and EBITDA to our results this year and further strengthens our ties to EchoStar.  I would like to congratulate and thank our partners, Space Systems/Loral and ILS, for an exemplary program and the Telesat technical team for their skill and dedication in completing the commercial handoff so quickly following our launch a few weeks ago.”

Telesat’s Nimiq 5 was manufactured by Space Systems/Loral (SS/L) using their space-proven 1300 platform.  The satellite has 32 high-powered Ku-band transponders and is now in geostationary orbit at 72.7 degrees West to begin its 15 year service life. 

Nimiq 5 was launched September 18th from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in the Republic of Kazakhstan (September 17th in Ottawa).  Transfer orbit, in-orbit testing and relocation to 72.7 degrees West were completed in three weeks due to the use of Telesat’s advanced in-orbit testing system and close cooperation between the SS/L and the Telesat teams.