PARIS, February 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL) announces the full entry into commercial service of its HOT BIRD(TM) 9 satellite at 13 degrees East. Built by EADS Astrium and launched on 20 December 2008 by Arianespace, Eutelsat's new high-capacity broadcast satellite has a projected in-orbit life of more than 15 years.
The smooth transfer of television and radio channels onto HOT BIRD(TM) 9 was completed this morning at 4am GMT by Eutelsat's control centre, working in close collaboration with broadcast clients and providers of uplink services.
With the entry into service of HOT BIRD(TM) 9, copositioned with Eutelsat's HOT BIRD(TM) 6 and HOT BIRD(TM) 8 satellites, HOT BIRD(TM) 7A can now be redeployed to 9 degrees East. Rebranded EUROBIRD(TM) 9A, the satellite will assume all broadcasts currently carried by the 20 transponders on EUROBIRD(TM) 9 and introduce 18 additional transponders at the 9 degrees East neighbourhood, which has seen the number of channels more than double in one year to almost 150. Released from this position, EUROBIRD(TM) 9 will continue its useful life in orbit at another location.
HOT BIRD(TM) 9 has a payload of up to 64 Ku-band transponders and is the second in Eutelsat's new generation of HOT BIRD(TM) broadcast satellites, following HOT BIRD(TM) 8 which was launched in 2006. These high-capacity spacecraft have the dual mission of renewing Eutelsat's resource at its premium video neighbourhood at 13 degrees East and elevating in-orbit security to industry-leading levels. The HOT BIRD(TM) neighbourhood today broadcasts almost 1 100 television channels and 600 radio stations to an audience of more than 120 million homes in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.
About Eutelsat Communications
Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL, ISIN code: FR0010221234) is the holding company of Eutelsat S.A.. With capacity commercialised on 26 satellites that provide coverage over the entire European continent, as well as the Middle East, Africa, India and significant parts of Asia and the Americas, Eutelsat is one of the world's three leading satellite operators in terms of revenues. At 31 December 2008, Eutelsat's satellites were broadcasting more than 3,200 television channels and 1,100 radio stations. Almost 1,100 channels broadcast via its HOT BIRD(TM) video neighbourhood at 13 degrees East which serves over 120 million cable and satellite homes in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. The Group's satellites also serve a wide range of fixed and mobile telecommunications services, TV contribution markets, corporate networks, and broadband markets for Internet Service Providers and for transport, maritime and in-flight markets. Eutelsat's broadband subsidiary, Skylogic, markets and operates services through its teleport in Italy that serves enterprises, local communities, government agencies and aid organisations in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas. Headquartered in Paris, Eutelsat and its subsidiaries employ 591 commercial, technical and operational experts from 27 countries.
http://www.eutelsat.com
For further information
Press contacts
Vanessa O'Connor
Tel: +33-1-53-98-38-88
voconnor@eutelsat.fr
Frederique Gautier
Tel: +33-1-53-98-38-88
fgautier@eutelsat.fr
Investor relations
Gilles Janvier
Tel: +33-1-53-98-35-35
investors@eutelsat-communications.com
