Eutelsat ties up
procurement and
launch contracts
for EUTELSAT
172B
Asia-Pacific
satellite
31
July 2014
Eutelsat
Communications
has sealed
procurement and
launch contracts
with Airbus
Defence and
Space and
Arianespace for
the EUTELSAT
172B satellite.
As an early
follow-on
programme to
EUTELSAT 172A,
the new triple
mission
satellite will
provide
continuity and
expansion
capacity at
Eutelsat’s 172°
East orbital
position that is
a prime gateway
for services in
the Asia Pacific
region.
The 3.5 tonne
satellite to be
manufactured by
Airbus Defence
and Space will
be launched by
an Ariane 5
rocket in first
half 2017 and
will use
electric
propulsion for
initial in-orbit
raising and all
station-keeping
manoeuvres. The
reduction in
mass will enable
this powerful
(13 kW)
satellite to be
launched with
the Ariane 5
lower position,
offering lower
launch costs.
In-orbit raising
is expected to
take
approximately
four months.
EUTELSAT 172B
will host
regular C-band
and Ku-band
payloads. It
will also host
the Pacific
Ocean Region's
first Ku-band
High Throughput
payload which
Panasonic
Avionics
Corporation has
already selected
as its key
growth platform
for in-flight
broadband and
live TV for
commercial
airlines on
trans-Pacific
and Asian
routes.
The procurement
contracts
announced with
Airbus Defence
and Space and
Arianespace, two
leading players
in the European
space industry,
reflect
Eutelsat’s
commitment to
innovation that
contributes to
increasing
competitivity
and improving
customer
service. In
addition to
electric
propulsion for
in-orbit
raising,
EUTELSAT 172B
will be
Eutelsat’s first
satellite
equipped to
dynamically
distribute power
between beams
connected to its
High Throughput
payload. This
facility will
enable Eutelsat
to respond to
traffic
variations
across the eight
time zones
covered by the
payload’s 11
beams that span
from the Western
seaboard of
North America to
South-East Asia.
Michel de Rosen,
Eutelsat
Chairman and
CEO, said:
“With the
allocation of
the contracts to
manufacture and
launch EUTELSAT
172B awarded to
Airbus Defence
and Space and
Arianespace, we
are placing our
trust once again
in two industry
leaders who
understand our
rigour and high
expectations.
Through a
combination of
three distinct
payloads,
electric
propulsion and
dynamic power
distribution,
EUTELSAT 172B
reflects our
commitment to
innovations that
benefit our
customers and
raises the game
for the
satellite
business.”
EUTELSAT 172B
payloads:
A C-band
payload of
14 physical
transponders
delivering
increased
power and
broader
coverage to
enhance
service and
tap into new
growth
markets in
South East
Asia.
A regular
Ku-band
payload of
36 physical
transponders
that will
more than
double
capacity at
172° East.
Transponders
will be
connected to
five
improved
service
areas: North
Pacific,
North East
Asia, South
East
Pacific,
South West
Pacific and
South
Pacific.
A
High
Throughput
Ku-band
payload
specifically
designed for
in-flight
broadband,
featuring
multiple
user spots
optimised to
serve
densely-used
Asian and
trans-Pacific
flight paths
and
interconnected
to gateways
operating in
the Ka band.
This new
payload will
be the first
customised
for
in-flight
connectivity
over the
Pacific
Ocean
Region,
delivering
an overall
throughput
of 1.8 Gbps
to an
underserved
market
forecast to
enjoy
sustained
growth over
the coming
years.
EUTELSAT 172B
will be based on
the Eurostar
E3000 platform
of Airbus
Defence and
Space.
