Eutelsat 3B satellite now deployed

Eutelsat’s 3B satellite is now fully deployed and is providing commercial services at 3° East – providing reach over Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia and Brazil.

The satellite, which was successfully launched on May 26, offers Ku- and C-band capacity for broadcast and data markets. It can operate up to 51 transponders with customers able to select the frequency band most adapted to their applications and targeted service area.

Eutelsat said that with the deployment, it transferred customer traffic over the weekend to Eutelsat 3B from its Eutelsat 3D and Eutelsat 3A satellites, which were already positioned at 3° East. Both of these satellites will now be re-deployed.

Eutelsat 3D is now on its way to 7° East where it will be co-positioned with Eutelsat 7A, to increase capacity for DTH, video, data and telecoms services in Europe, Turkey, the Middle East, Africa and the Indian Ocean islands. It is due to go into service at 7° East in mid-July.

Eutelsat 3A will be relocated to 8° West until it is deorbited later in 2014.

“With the full entry into service of Eutelsat 3B we are further heightening the efficiency of our fleet and gearing new capacity towards our strongest growth markets. Clients providing services from our 3° East and 7° East orbital positions can now benefit from new satellites at the top end of the range in terms of flexibility, power and reach,” said Eutelsat Chairman and CEO, Michel de Rosen.