EUTELSAT 3D Satellite Arrives at the Baikonour Cosmodrome. Readies for ILS Proton Launch on May 14
PARIS and BAIKONOUR, Kazakhstan, April 16, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --
The EUTELSAT 3D satellite of Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL) arrived on
April 13 at the Baikonour Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan and is now undergoing final
preparations for launch by a Proton Breeze M rocket supplied by ILS. Lift-off is planned
on May 14 from 16.02 GMT (18.02 CET) with spacecraft separation scheduled to occur after a
nine hour 13 minute flight.
Weighing 5.4 tons at lift-off, EUTELSAT 3D has been built for Eutelsat by Thales
Alenia Space using its established Spacebus 4000 platform. The satellite is designed to
operate in orbit for 15 years.
With a baseline design equipping it to strengthen Eutelsat's overall in-orbit
flexibility and back-up from multiple orbital slots, EUTELSAT 3D will initially be located
at the 3degree(s) East orbital position to address high-growth video, data, telecom and
broadband markets. Through its configuration of Ku and Ka transponders connected to three
footprints, the new satellite will serve customers in Europe, North Africa, the Middle
East and Central Asia. A fourth service area in the Ku-band will address markets in
sub-Saharan Africa. EUTELSAT 3D will operate at 3degree(s) East until the deployment of
the EUTELSAT 3B satellite to this position in 2014 to provide spectrum growth and high
levels of operational flexibility in C, Ku and Ka bands. It will subsequently continue
service at 7degree(s) East.
Eutelsat Communications is the holding company of Eutelsat S.A. With capacity
commercialised on 30 satellites delivering reach of Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia,
significant parts of the Americas and the Asia-Pacific, Eutelsat Communications (Euronext
Paris: ETL, ISIN code: FR0010221234) is one of the world's leading satellite operators. As
of 31 December 2012 Eutelsat's satellites were broadcasting 4,500 television channels to
over 200 million cable and satellite homes in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The
Group's satellites also provide a wide range of services for TV contribution, corporate
networks and fixed and mobile broadband markets. Headquartered in Paris, Eutelsat and its
subsidiaries employ over 780 commercial, technical and operational professionals from 30
countries.
Eutelsat Communications
CONTACT: Vanessa O'Connor, Tel: +33-1-53-98-37-91, voconnor@eutelsat.fr; Frédérique Gautier, Tel: +33-1-53-98-37-91, fgautier@eutelsat.fr; Marie-Sophie Ecuer, Tel: +33-1-53-98-37-91, mecuer@eutelsat.fr; Investors and analysts: Lisa Finas, Tel: +33-1-53-98-35-30, investors@eutelsat-communications.com; Leonard Wapler, Tel: +33-1-53-98-31-07, investors@eutelsat-communications.com