PARIS, June 19, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --
The EUTELSAT 3D satellite of Eutelsat Communications (Euronext
Paris: ETL) went into full commercial service this morning at 3°
East with all traffic transferred overnight from EUTELSAT 3C onto
the new satellite. With 33 operational transponders (32 Ku
transponders of which 15 are 72 MHz and one 108 MHz Ka
transponder), additional capacity is now available from 3° East to
address video, data, telecom and broadband markets in Europe and also in Africa through a new service area.
EUTELSAT 3D will operate at 3° East until the deployment of the
EUTELSAT 3B satellite to this position in second quarter 2014 to
provide further spectrum growth and high levels of operational
flexibility in C, Ku and Ka bands.
The entry into service of EUTELSAT 3D enables Eutelsat to
initiate enhancements to its fleet that will bring higher in-orbit
security and increased capacity.
EUTELSAT 3C will be deployed in early July from 3° East to the
HOT BIRD position at 13° East. Renamed HOT BIRD 13D, it will be
colocated with the identical HOT BIRD 13B and C satellites. With
each bird equipped with 64 high-power Ku-band transponders, they
together span the entire range of 102 Ku-band frequencies at 13°
East and will deliver broadcast customers industry-leading levels
of security and 100% in-orbit redundancy.
The reconfiguration of the HOT BIRD constellation will release
the HOT BIRD 13A satellite which will be deployed to 7/8° West.
Renamed EUTELSAT 8 West C, it will enable Eutelsat to switch on
additional transponders at the key neighbourhood for satellite
television in North Africa and the
Middle East. The 7/8° West arc,
already hosting EUTELSAT and Nilesat satellites, broadcasts over
1,000 channels to more than 30 million homes and represents one of
the fastest growing neighbourhoods for digital services. This
orbital position will get a further boost in the second half of
2015 with the launch of EUTELSAT 8 West B.
About Eutelsat Communications
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 March 2013, Eutelsat's satellites were
broadcasting more than 4,600 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.
http://www.eutelsat.com
SOURCE Eutelsat Communications
