SES orders 4 new "Astra" sats

SES, the Luxembourg-based satellite operator, has ordered 4 new satellites from Astrium (part of the EADS giant aerospace company). The new order is a departure from SES' normal procedure.

SES has ordered the craft as ‘multi-mission' satellites, in that they will have to suit extremely flexible mission demands. These include both an Astra-based task, as well as missions for SES World Skies.
However, the portfolio have been identified as Astra 2E, 2F, 2G and Astra 5B, and will provide both replacement and incremental capacity for two existing orbital positions: 28.2 deg East (the location that looks primarily to the UK and Ireland) and 31.5 deg East (a position under considerable development by Astra).

The craft will be launched over the next 4 years between 2012 and 2014. "This important investment in new satellite capacity will enhance the prominence of SES Astra's 28.2 degrees East position, mainly for the UK and Irish markets, and improve coverage of Eastern Europe from 31.5 degrees East," said Romain Bausch, President/CEO of SES. "It will also allow SES World Skies to extend its offer to the African and Middle Eastern markets. By adding significant flexibility and improved functionality, these new satellites will allow SES to further drive its DTH, DTT, enterprise and broadband businesses while consolidating space assets and strengthening the international reach of the group. Also, we are pleased to be working again with Astrium. SES has appreciated the quality of their products and their customer dedication in recent and ongoing contracts, and this is exactly what we are looking for in this multi-satellite contract."


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