Eutelsat electric satellite ordered with SSL
March 22, 2016
By Chris Forrester
Space Systems Loral (SSL) has won an order from Eutelsat for its new high-power 7C satellite to serve Africa, Europe, the MENA region and Turkey.
Eutelsat 7C will go to 7 degrees East and one of its anchor tenants will be DigiTurk as well as some key broadcasters in sub-Saharan Africa.
The satellite, and all-electric craft, will launch during Q3 2018 and carry 44 transponders, and co-located with Eutelsat 7B. Eutelsat 7A will then be released to work at another orbital location.
The order is somewhat unusual in that it has gone to a US manufacturer, whereas Eutelsat tends to favour European satellite builders. Since 2010 Eutelsat has ordered 11 satellites, 5 with Airbus/Astrium, 3 with Thales Alenia and now 3 with SSL.
The new craft will double the amount of capacity available at 7 degrees East, and create space for “several hundred” digital channels.