EADS Astrium to Deliver New Eutelsat Ka-Band Satellite

Eutelsat Communications has selected EADS Astrium, a provider of aerospace, defense and related services, to deliver its first satellite operating in Ka-band frequencies.

The new satellite is currently called KA-SAT and scheduled for launch in third quarter 2010. It is a network of eight gateways managed by Eutelsat, and which will provide access to KA-SAT and deliver the full range of services to end users.

Eutelsat will locate KA-SAT at 13 degrees east where it will join three large Hot Bird Ku-band broadcasting satellites. This collocation will enrich the range of consumer entertainment services offered from the group’s prime neighborhood by enabling satellite homes to receive television in the Ku-band and new rich media services in the Ka-band through a single dual-frequency antenna.

Giuliano Berretta, chairman and CEO of Eutelsat, said: “With their high power and broad coverage, today’s Ku-band satellites are highly optimized for video broadcasting and professional data networks and are the core component of Eutelsat’s satellite system. Today, with the announcement of our first full Ka-band program, we are crossing a new frontier to a specifically designed infrastructure for interactive consumer services.”