July 17, 2013

Satélites Mexicanos S.A. de C.V. has entered into an agreement with Boeing Satellite Systems International (Boeing) for the design, construction and delivery of Satmex 9, the latest communications satellite in its fleet. Satmex 9 will be launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida and will use SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket. The launch is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2015.
 

Satmex 9 is a satellite with 48 Ku band 36 MHz equivalent transponders, capable of serving all of Satmex’s Latin American customers in the video, telecommunications and government sectors. The satellite will provide new capacity for expansion, providing Satmex with a strong foundation for its growth plans. The Boeing 702SP product line is a complementary fit for Satmex’s expansion strategy, offering an innovative design with capabilities that provide flexible service offerings to meet the growing demands of Satmex’s prestigious customer portfolio.

“We are very pleased to announce the newest satellite in our fleet, Satmex 9,” said Patricio Northland, Chief Executive Officer of Satmex. “Satmex 9 will be an important component of our future growth strategy. Co-located with Satmex 8 at the 116.8° W orbital position, it will provide much needed capacity to our DTH and telecommunication customers. They will be able to utilize Satmex 9 to meet their transmission needs on a more cost effective basis by using the same terrestrial infrastructure they are currently using on Satmex 8. Satmex 9 will continue our momentum, most recently demonstrated through the successful launch and deployment of Satmex 8.”

The procurement of Satmex 9 is part of a global cooperation agreement with Asia Broadcast Satellite (ABS), involving the manufacture and delivery of four satellites, and the option for four additional satellites. As previously announced, the Satmex 7 and ABS-3A satellites are currently under construction by Boeing. Both Satmex and ABS will have the ability to convert the optional satellites to firm orders as they may determine in the future.