The new satellite for Eutelsat Communications [Euronext Paris: ETL] is the W3B. Eutelsat announced Thales Alenia Space has now been commissioned to build the satellite. Once in operation, W3B will bring more broadcasting, telecom and broadband services into play for Eutelsat. The new vehicle is scheduled for launch during Q2 of 2010.
This new satellite is based on the Spacebus 4000 platform of Thales Alenia Space and will offer 56 transponders. To be co-positioned with Eutelsat’s W3A satellite at 7° E, this will also allows the company to enhance security for clients requesting this service as well as to increase operational transponders at this neighborhood by more than 50 percent. The W3A sat already broadcast nearly 200 TV channels as well as pro video and data services. With the W3B colocation, the number of available transponders will rise from 44 to 70 and there will be an expansion of customers, especially those involved in launching their first HDTV channels. Seven additional satellites are planned for launch prior to the close of 2010, with two this year. The W3B has a schedule, in orbit life expectancy of 15 years—Paris, France
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