Intelsat today announced that at 0944 the Intelsat 906 satellite was successfully launched aboard an Ariane 44L vehicle. The satellite is expected to be operational this October.
The Intelsat 906 launch is the sixth in a nine-satellite campaign to replace and to enhance system capacity by the end of 2003. The 906 satellite will be deployed at 64oE and will offer capacity for telephony, corporate networks, Internet, video and hybrid space/terrestrial solutions to customers on its 72 C-band and 22 Ku-band transponders (measured in 36MHz equivalent units). The satellite will provide high power Ku-band spot beam coverage for Western Europe and part of Asia and additional C-band capacity to customers in Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia.
The high power and coverage area of the Intelsat 906 satellite makes it ideal to support Ku-band video applications on the Indian subcontinent as well as all of Intelsat`s GlobalConnexsm solutions, including Internet trunking and IPL.
"We are pleased to add the Intelsat 906 to our fleet, a new powerful spacecraft that will allow our customers to use less expensive ground equipment and to obtain services with greater throughput," commented Conny Kullman, Intelsat, Ltd CEO. "The IX series satellites provide Intelsat with technology-enhanced capacity to meet customer demand and allow us to roll-out new services."
The Intelsat 906 satellite will replace the Intelsat 804, which currently holds the 64oE orbital slot but will be moved to a new location at 176oE to support additional customer demand in the Pacific. As an extension of this deployment, and pending regulatory approval, the 906 launch also allows Intelsat to place a satellite in a new role at 85oE to serve China, India and other parts of Asia.
Intelsat`s next launch, the Intelsat 907 satellite, is scheduled to take place from French Guiana, aboard an Ariane 44L launch vehicle, during the first quarter of next year.
For further information, please contact Brian Gibson at telephone 011 880 1510; mobile 083 253 5988; fax 011 880 1392; e-mail Gibson@icon.co.za
Share
Intelsat, Ltd, established in 1964, is a leading global communications services provider, supplying voice, data, video and Internet backbone connectivity to more than 400 customers in approximately 200 countries and territories.
Intelsat provides these services utilising its 24 satellites that are in orbit. This network is supported by ground facilities, which are required for the operation and control of these satellites.
Intelsat is a Bermuda registered company, with major centres in Washington and London. Its local regional office is located in Sandton. Telkom SA is a shareholder of Intelsat and utilises its services.
For more information, visit http://www.intelsat.com/.
Some of the statements in this news release constitute "forward-looking statements" that do not directly or exclusively relate to historical facts. These forward-looking statements reflect our intentions, plans, expectations, assumptions and beliefs about future events and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside our control.
Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements include known and unknown risks.
Because actual results could differ materially from our intentions, plans, expectations, assumptions and beliefs about the future, you are urged to view all forward-looking statements contained in these news releases with caution. Intelsat does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Editorial contacts