SSL selected to provide direct broadcast satellite to Bulgaria Sat

Sept. 8, 2014

Space Systems/Loral (SSL), announced that it was selected to provide a communications satellite for Bulgaria Sat, an affiliate of Bulsatcom, which is a leading telecommunications company and the largest provider of pay-TV services in Bulgaria. The satellite, which will provide Direct-to-Home (DTH) television service in the Balkan region, will be Bulgaria Sat's first dedicated satellite.

"SSL has a long history of working with both large established satellite operators and newer ventures to provide highly reliable satellites for today's advanced services," said John Celli, president of SSL.  "It has been a pleasure to help Bulgaria Sat reach this milestone of ordering its first satellite, which will help expand connectivity in the region, bringing the latest in up-to-date information and entertainment."

The satellite, BulgariaSat-1, will provide DTH services and fixed satellite services in the Balkans and other European regions to help meet the growing demand for telecommunications services. BulgariaSat-1 will be equipped with 2 Ku-band FSS transponders and 30 Ku-band BSS transponders for fixed satellite services and advanced television services such as high definition television.

"We selected SSL to manufacture our first satellite early on, based on its history of success and reliability," said Maxim Zayakov, chief executive officer of Bulgaria Sat.  "SSL has been an excellent partner in helping us bring this project to fruition."

SSL assisted Bulgaria Sat in obtaining all of the financing for the satellite, including export credit financing from the Export-Import Bank of the United States. BulgariaSat-1 will be delivered in-orbit, following its launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in 2016.

BulgariaSat-1 is based on the space-proven SSL 1300 satellite platform that provides the flexibility for a broad range of applications and technology advances.  It is designed to deliver service for 15 years or more.