PARIS -- Eutelsat Communications has ordered two new satellites from Airbus Defence and Space. Designed HOTBIRD 13F and HOTBIRD 13G, the two new satellites will replace existing capacity at Eutelsat's 13° East video neighborhood, which serves Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa.
The satellites will be based on Airbus' Eurostar Neo platform and will feature all-electric propulsion systems and a combined 102 Ku-band transponders, enabling them to broadcast 1,000 television channels to 135 million homes in their service area. Each satellite will have 22 kW and a launch mass of 4,500 kilograms. That launch mass is low compared to many other geosynchronous television broadcasting satellites due to the electric propulsion.
The satellites are scheduled to launch into orbit in 2021 and will enter service in 2022.
The order is significant because geosynchronous satellite purchases have been down. Modern satellites offer significantly higher capacity than the spacecraft they are replacing, enabling satellite operators to order fewer satellites while maintaining or even improving over current capabilities. In fact, Eutelsat plans to replace three satellites with HOTBIRD 13F and 13G. In addition, many satellite operators are now investing in non-geosynchronous orbit satellites, leaving less money to pay for the geosynchronous satellites.
Still, as this contract demonstrates, demand for geosynchronous communications satellites continues, if at lower levels than in the past. These satellites are effective at covering large areas of the Earth to provide video broadcasting and data services. Companies like Eutelsat and ViaSat will continue to order satellites, providing business for manufacturers like Airbus and Boeing.
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