Eutelsat's KA-SAT Satellite Successfully on Station at 9 Degrees East and Undergoing In-Orbit Tests

News provided by

Jan 13, 2011, 12:52 ET

PARIS, January 13, 2011 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Following the successful completion of all scheduled manoeuvres since launch, the KA-SAT satellite of Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL) is now positioned at its definitive location in geostationary orbit at 9 degrees East.

On January 8 the satellite's payload was switched on, enabling Europe's first High Throughput Satellite to begin a series of in-orbit tests, which will be followed by the final phase of integrated validation of the satellite with the network of ground stations that will connect to the Internet backbone. Commercial entry into service is on track for end May 2011.

The operations centralised at Eutelsat's Rambouillet teleport since KA-SAT's launch on December 26, have included full deployment of the solar panels - giving a total wing span of almost 40 metres - and the deployment of the four antennas which will deliver reach of Europe and the Mediterranean Basin via 82 spotbeams.

Built for Eutelsat by Astrium, KA-SAT ushers in a new generation of high capacity multi-spotbeam satellites for broadband and data services.

About Eutelsat Communications

Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL, ISIN code: FR0010221234) is the holding company of Eutelsat S.A.. With capacity commercialised on 26 satellites that provide coverage over the entire European continent, as well as the Middle East, Africa, India and significant parts of Asia and the Americas, Eutelsat is one of the world's three leading satellite operators in terms of revenues. At 30 September 2010, Eutelsat's satellites were broadcasting more than 3,700 television channels. More than 1,100 channels broadcast via its HOT BIRD(TM) video neighbourhood at 13 degrees East which serves over 120 million cable and satellite homes in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. The Group's satellites also serve a wide range of fixed and mobile telecommunications services, TV contribution markets, corporate networks, and broadband markets for Internet Service Providers and for transport, maritime and in-flight markets. Eutelsat's broadband subsidiary, Skylogic, markets and operates access to high speed internet services through teleports in France and Italy that serve enterprises, local communities, government agencies and aid organisations in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas. Headquartered in Paris, Eutelsat and its subsidiaries employ 660 commercial, technical and operational employees from 28 countries.