Advanced Television

Canada’s ANIK G1 safely launched

April 16, 2013

By Chris Forrester

Canada’s latest giant satellite, Telesat’s Anik G1, was delivered into orbit in the early hours of April 16 local time by International Launch Services (ILS). The launch, from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, was flawless and used ILS’ Proton and Breeze-M combination of rocket and upper stage.

Anik G1 has 24 C-band, 28 Ku-band and 3 X-band transponders that form a 55 transponder, multi-mission satellite. Once in service, Anik G1 will provide direct-to-home (DTH) television service in Canada, as well as broadband, voice, data, and video services in South America where economic growth has driven high demand for satellite capacity. It will also be the first commercial satellite with substantial X-band coverage for government communications over the Americas and the Pacific Ocean including Hawaii.

Anik G1 will be positioned at 107.3 degrees West longitude where it will be co-located with Telesat’s Anik F1 satellite effectively doubling both the C-band and Ku-band transponders serving South America from the 107.3 degrees West orbital location.

Categories: Articles, DTH/Satellite