Eutelsat has commissioned its first satellite to operate exclusively at frequencies in the Ka-band. The Paris-based operator has announced collaboration with the US communications provider ViaSat to develop further satellite broadband markets in Europe and the United States.
Dubbed KA-SAT, the satellite will be manufactured by EADS Astrium, and use the two-way capabilities of the Ka-band to deliver services across Europe and the Mediterranean Basin. It is scheduled to launch in the third quarter of 2010 and will be configured with over 80 spotbeams – the most advanced in the world to date. Eutelsat will manage a network a network of eight gateways that will form an integral part of the new infrastructure.
KA-SAT, a European equivalent to North America’s ViaSat-1, will be located within Eutelsat’s Hot Bird neighbourhood at 13 degrees East. Hot Bird 6, already located at 13 East, is using its own Ka-band capacity to deliver the Tooway service through Eutelsat’s Skylogic subsidiary.
