EUTELSAT
Commissions
W3C
Satellite
12
March
2009
Thales
Alenia
Space
has
been
commissioned
to
build
the
W3C
satellite.
Eutelsat
will
select
the
launcher
for
the
satellite
separately
at a
later
stage.
The
rapid
order
of
W3C
follows
Eutelsat's
decision
taken
in
January
2009
not
to
integrate
the
W2M
satellite
into
its
fleet
following
a
major
anomaly
which
occurred
during
its
transfer
from
the
location
used
for
in-orbit
tests
to
its
operating
position
at
16
degrees
East
where
its
mission
was
to
replace
well
in
advance
Eutelsat's
W2
satellite.
As a
result
of
this
incident,
Eutelsat
decided
that
the
W3B
satellite,
which
is
already
one
year
into
construction,
will
replace
W2
from
the
middle
of
2010,
raising
available
capacity
at
16
degrees
East
to
56
transponders
from
27.
W3B
had
the
dual
mission
of
accompanying
the
expansion
and
in-orbit
redundancy
of
Eutelsat's
7
degrees
East
position
and
to
ensuring
a
solution
for
continuity
of
service
in
the
event
of
the
loss
of
W2M,
W2A
or
W7.
The
W3C
satellite
will
now
assume
this
double
mission
of
boosting
by
more
than
50%
available
capacity
at 7
degrees
East,
or
ensuring
if
required
Ku-band
continuity
of
service
for
future
satellites,
namely
W2A,
W7
or
W3B.
Scheduled
for
launch
in
third
quarter
2011
and
equipped
with
56
transponders,
W3C
will
be
based
on
the
Spacebus
4000
platform
of
Thales
Alenia
Space.
Its
copositioning
with
Eutelsat's
W3A
satellite
will
expand
capacity
at 7
degrees
East
from
44
to
70
transponders.
The
copositioning
of
both
satellites
underscores
Eutelsat's
objective
to
transform
7
degrees
East
into
a
flagship
position,
repeating
the
multi-satellite
strategy
pursued
at
13
degrees
East
which
has
enabled
the
HOT
BIRD™
satellites
to
develop
into
the
leading
neighbourhood
worldwide
for
the
number
of
channels
broadcast.
With
optimised
coverage
of
Europe,
Africa,
the
Middle
East
and
central
Asia,
the
W3A
satellite
at 7
degrees
East
already
broadcasts
close
to
200
television
channels
and
carries
professional
video
and
data
services.
The
additional
resources
will
enable
Eutelsat
to
support
expanding
business
of
existing
customers,
notably
broadcasters
now
launching
their
first
HDTV
channels.
It
will
also
bring
fresh
capacity
to
boost
Eutelsat's
resources
in
other
regions.
W3C
will
have
three
key
coverage
zones
to
address
markets
with
strong
growth
potential:
- High-power Ku-band coverage of Europe with a beam centred over central Europe and Turkey which is particularly optimised for Direct-to-Home (DTH) reception in these regions,
- Extensive coverage across Extended Europe, and including North Africa and the Middle East as far as central Asia, via a Ku-band beam optimised for professional video links and data networks,
- Ku-band coverage of Sub-Saharan Africa and Indian Ocean islands for regional telecommunications and Internet services. Interconnection with Europe will also be possible with the African coverage through a combination of Ka-band frequencies in Europe and Ku-band frequencies in Africa.
The
investment
in
the
new
satellite
is
included
in
the
capital
expenditure
programme
for
the
2008-2011
period
of
€450
million
on
average
per
year.
With
a
scheduled
in-orbit
life
of
more
than
15
years
W3C
is
the
19th
satellite
commissioned
by
Eutelsat
from
Thales
Alenia
Space.
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