EUTELSAT 21B satellite in full commercial service

18 December 2012

Eutelsat Communications announced the full entry into commercial service of the powerful EUTELSAT 21B satellite at 21.5° East. The seamless transfer of all traffic from the EUTELSAT 21A satellite was carried out overnight by Eutelsat's control centre, working in close collaboration with clients and providers of uplink services.

The EUTELSAT 21B satellite takes the 21.5° East position to a new dimension for users ranging from broadcasters to news agencies, telcos, enterprises and government administrations. The new satellite offers increased bandwidth (40 Ku-band transponders versus 29 on EUTELSAT 21A), higher power and improved flexibility. In addition to an enhanced Widebeam spanning Europe, North Africa and Central Asia, it features two dedicated high-energy beams covering North-West Africa and the Middle East/Central Asia optimised for data, broadband and professional video services. Customers now have the choice to operate services within a beam or to interconnect between beams.

EUTELSAT 21A will now be redeployed to 48° East where it will continue to provide full commercial service. The EUTELSAT 70B satellite, launched on December 3, is currently undergoing in-orbit testing and on track to enter service at 70.5° East in mid-January 2013.