SES orders four new Astra satellites

Satellite operator SES has ordered four new satellites from manaufacturer Astrium in a €500m investment programme. The new satellites – Astra 2A, Astra 2F, Astra 2G and Astra 5B – will enable SES to release existing satellites at 28.2° East and 31.5° East and to add new capacity.

SES Astra’s 28.2° East position is used to serve the UK and Ireland, while 31.5° East is used to serve eastern Europe. SES president and CEO Romain Bausch said that the investment would also allow Astra sister unit SES World Skies to extend its offer to the African and Middle East markets via capacity on Astra 2E, 2F and 2G.

Astra 2E, 2F and 2G will also deliver VSAT and broadband serices and will carry Ku- and Ka-band payloads at 28.2° East.