Intelsat has announced that its Intelsat 11 satellite was successfully launched aboard Arianespace’s Ariane 5 rocket. The satellite, built by Orbital Sciences Corporation, will operate from 317 degrees East and host Latin America’s video programmers and the region’s largest DTH platform.
Its payload is comprised of 25 C- and 18 Ku-band transponder units offering coverage for broadcasting content in the Americas and Europe. Once Intelsat 11 is operational, it will eventually replace Intelsat’s 6B and 3R spacecraft. Intelsat 11 will begin transitioning its customers over once in-orbit testing is complete, providing them capacity with a useful life slated to last the next 16 years. The new satellite will enter service later this year.