Johannesburg, 11 Jun 2012
African satellite service provider Intelsat is set to expand its global portfolio of broadband infrastructure with the deployment of a new series of satellites based on a “high performance, open architecture” design.
The company says its Intelsat Epic satellite platform will be deployed for wireless and fixed telecommunications, enterprise, mobility, video and government applications requiring broadband infrastructure across the major continents.
According to Jon Osler, Intelsat MD for Africa, the telecoms provider plans to launch two satellites in the Epic array - the Intelsat 29e and Intelsat 33e - with expected service dates in 2015 and 2016. “Initially, the two Intelsat Epic satellites will cover all of the populated continents. Intelsat 33e will provide coverage of all of Africa.”
The first Epic satellites, says Osler, will bring increased capacity to Sub-Saharan Africa, which will primarily support enterprise network, cell backhaul and military applications.
Network niche
According to Intelsat, the Epic platform is a new approach to satellite and network architecture that utilises multiple frequency bands, wide beams, spot beams and frequency reuse technology. “A complementary overlay, it will be fully integrated with Intelsat's existing satellite fleet and global Intelsat ONESM terrestrial network.
“Combining Intelsat's spectral rights in the C-, Ku- and Ka-bands with the technical advantages of high throughput technology, the Intelsat Epic platform will be fully open architecture.”
Intelsat executive VP of sales, marketing and strategy, Steve Spengler, says the open architecture design will allow telecoms companies to customise and control their service offerings, determining elements such as speed, hardware and network topology.
While the company is not currently able to disclose information on potential customers, Osler says: “Once manufacturing contracts [have been secured] we will be able to discuss more.”
Intelsat CEO Dave McGlade says the company is “strategically investing in this platform” as the global demand for bandwidth surges and penetration of communications reaches further into developing regions. “We are investing [in broadband infrastructure] to support customers as they launch new services and enter new geographies.”
McGlade says the Intelsat Epic platform is a “progressive evolution of the Intelsat fleet” and additional launches are set to be announced in the future.
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