Telenor’s Thor 6 prepares for business

Telenor Satellite Broadcasting’s latest satellite Thor 6 will enter commercial service before the end of the month.

Having completed all necessary in-orbit and ground related testing, Telenor said commercial services will begin in late December. The satellite operator has taken formal ownership of Thor 6 and will now control it from the in-house space control centre in Oslo.  Located at 1° West, Thor 6 will give Telenor 36 new Ku-band transponders. Sixteen will be used for the Nordic region while 20 will be used for expanding the operator’s presence in central and eastern Europe. The launch doubles the number of transponders at 1° West, giving Telenor a total of 71 at the position.

Telenor said transition of traffic from Thor 3 to Thor 6 will start as soon as possible with completion expected early in the second quarter of 2010.

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