Eutelsat launches Eutelsat 117 West B satellite

Eutelsat has successfully launched its all-electric Eutelsat 117 West B satellite from SpaceX’s Space Launch Complex in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

The satellite was launched on a Falcon 9 rocket, will begin a seven-month period of ‘orbit-raising’ on June 18 and is due to go into service at 117° West in Q1 2017.

The satellite will strengthen Eutelsat’s video capacities at 117° West and offer services to telecom operators and government service providers in Latin America.

The satellite is equipped with 48 Ku-band transponders and its four regional beams will provide premium coverage of Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, South America and the Southern Cone.

Eutelsat claims that the Wide Area Augmentation System payload on Eutelsat 117 West B is the first to be included on an all-electric satellite.