'Eutelsat to launch W7 Satellite with ILS in mid-Nov'

European satellite operator Eutelsat Communications has signed a contract with International Launch Services for the launch in mid-November of the W7 satellite on an ILS Proton. The satellite is built by Thales Alenia Space and will now undergo final preparation for delivery to the Baikonour Cosmodrome. Originally scheduled for launch by Sea Launch, this selection of Proton follows the confirmation to Eutelsat by Sea Launch of their unavailability to orbit W7 within the agreed timeframe. The decision to launch with ILS and Khrunichev was taken on the basis of their commitment to meeting Eutelsat's critical timeframe to launch W7 in mid-November, enabling Eutelsat to bring the satellite into service by the end of this year. Eutelsat is meanwhile continuing discussions with Sea Launch with a view to assigning the launch originally assigned for W7 to a future Eutelsat satellite. W7 will be collocated with W4 at 36 degrees east to double resources at one of Eutelsat's neighbourhoods. Through a configuration of 70 transponders connected to high-performance fixed and steerable beams, the new satellite will provide coverage of Russia and sub-Saharan Africa for digital broadcasting services, including pay-TV, and add flexibility for growing markets in central Asia. W7 will also assume all traffic on Eutelsat's 18-transponder Sesat 1 satellite which is currently positioned at 36 degrees east and which will subsequently continue in commercial service at an alternative location.

Distributed for DMeurope.com via M2 Communications (www.m2.com)

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