Telenor’s Thor 7 satellite now ready to broadcast

Telenor’s Fornebu HQ

Telenor Satellite Broadcasting’s recently launched Thor 7 satellite has now reached its final orbital location and is ready for commercial operation.

The satellite, which will provide growth capacity for broadcast and TV services in Europe – specifically in Central and Eastern Europe – completed its in-orbit testing and moved to its designated 1°West location, having first launched in April.

“With the Ku-band payload now in commercial service, Telenor Satellite Broadcasting (TSBc) looks forward to growing its European broadcast position. Thor 7 provides the expansion capacity required to satisfy today’s and tomorrow’s growing demands from both our customers and future customers interested in connecting to the 1°West neighbourhood,” said TSBc CEO, Morten Tengs.

Thor 7 was launched into geostationary transfer orbit on board an Ariane 5 launcher on April 26. The satellite carries a Ku-band payload of 11 transponders and Telenor claims that at 1°West it can reach close to 18 million households.

The satellite’s high-throughput Ka-band payload, which can be used by the maritime industry, will now undergo further testing and is expected to be fully operational in the fourth quarter.