Eutelsat has announced a new range of satellites that will for the first time allow its clients to define their own performance and flexibility.
The design of Eutelsat Quantum is being supported by the European Space Agency as part of a Public-Private Partnership with Eutelsat.
The first satellite, to be launched in 2018, will be primed and manufactured by Airbus Defense and Space (ADS) in the UK using flexible payload technology and a new platform from its affiliate, Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL). Both developments are supported by the UK Space Agency.
Michel de Rosen, Chairman and CEO of Eutelsat, said: “We are delighted to initiate this ground-breaking programme with the support of ESA, as well as our longstanding partner, Airbus Defence and Space. Developing solutions that give our customers control over the performance and adaptability they need from our satellites is a key ambition for Eutelsat. With the “Eutelsat Quantum”’ class of satellite we will deliver on this goal, offering an incomparable level of efficiency and flexibility in data, mobility and government services markets.”
The new design will represent a first in the commercial satellite industry by enabling the complete electronic synthesis of ‘receive’ and ‘transmit’ coverages in the Ku-band, including on-board jamming detection and mitigation. It will give customers access to premium capacity through footprint shaping and steering, power (Mbps) and frequency band pairing that they will be able to actively define.
The satellites will be capable of reacting dynamically to all frequency bands in each ITU region.
