Eutelsat, ictQATAR + SS/L… SatFab Agreement (Satellite Mfg)

[SatNews] Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL) and ictQATAR (representing the State of Qatar) has selected Space Systems/Loral (SS/L) to build the high-performance satellite the companies will jointly own and operate at the 25.5 degrees East location in geostationary orbit. The selection of prime contractor marks the next step forward in the partnership signed in May by Eutelsat and ictQATAR to invest in and operate a high-capacity satellite at 25.5 degrees East, one of the two longstanding and anchored neighborhoods serving rapidly expanding markets in the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia regions.

The two organizations selected Space Systems/Loral to deliver a spacecraft with a more than 15-year design life based on the Space Systems/Loral 1300 satellite bus, which is a decades-proven, modular platform with high power capability and flexibility for a broad range of applications. To enter into service in early 2013, this powerful satellite will provide a significantly expanded mission and superior coverage across Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia to follow on from Eutelsat’s EUROBIRD™ 2 satellite, which is currently operated at 25.5 degrees East. In addition to securing Ku-band continuity for Eutelsat and additional Ku-band resources for ictQATAR, it will initiate a Ka-band capability to open business opportunities for both parties. The spacecraft’s multi-mission architecture will enable ictQATAR and Eutelsat to respond to demand for the fastest-growing applications in the Middle East and North Africa, including video broadcasting, enterprise communications and government services. The television market will in particular benefit from the installed base of more than 13 million satellite homes already equipped for DTH reception from this neighborhood.