SES Astra has announced the procurement of a new 55-transponder satellite for its prime orbital slot at 19 degrees East. Astra 1N is to be built by the European manufacturer Astrium and will launch in 2011. The satellite will initially replace Astra 1G, which will be moved to another position.
Astra 1N will mainly serve the German, French and Spanish markets. Indeed, Broadband TV News predicts that by 2011 smaller language groups will have been moved to satellites elsewhere within the Astra fleet.
“The procurement of ASTRA 1N represents another important step in our strategy to continuously invest in our core business, and reinforce the high performance and efficiency of our fleet,” said Ferdinand Kayser, President and Chief Executive Officer of SES Astra. “With Astra 1N, we will have completed our comprehensive replacement programme at our prime orbital position of 19.2 degrees East and fully renewed our fleet at that position.
SES Astra currently operates five satellites at 19.2 degrees East (Astra 1F, 1G, 1H, 1KR and 1L) covering 120 frequencies; the launch of Astra 1N will reduce this to for satellites (Astra 1KR, 1L, IM and 1N). Astra 1M will launch in the fourth quarter this year.
