Embratel launches Star One D2
August 2, 2021
Embratel has announced the launch of Star One D2, a satellite that will expand satellite capacity in Brazil and Latin America. Star One D2 is equipped with C-, Ku-, Ka-, and X-band transponders. The Ku-band shall be used to expand capacities oriented to the Brazilian park of parabolic antennas, demands for pay-TV, and companies’ connectivity. The Ka-band will expand mobile telephone backhaul, as well as increase the performance of data, video, and internet applications in the entrepreneurial market.
“We are very happy with the successful launch of Star One D2, the largest satellite in our fleet, which shall reinforce our leadership in the telecom market, providing further resources to businesses in Brazil and Latin America,” says José Félix, president of Claro in Brazil, one of the largest telecommunication companies in the world. “With today’s announcement, we reinforce our commitment with the country and the region,” says Félix.
Star One D2, built by Maxar Technologies and launched by Arianespace, complements Embratel’s fleet, which has five other satellites in geostationary orbit (Star One D1, C1, C2, C3, and C4). With 19.3 KW of power and weighing 7 tons, Star One D2 will occupy the orbital position of 70° W and is equipped with 28 transponders (signal receivers and transmitters) in C-band, 24 transponders in Ku-band, and payloads in Ka-band and X-band.
“The new satellite shall expand our operation with customers in the region and shall provide further capacity for data transmission in general and for our structure of mobile telephone (backhaul), helping with the expansion of mobile services,” affirms José Formoso, CEO of Embratel.
The capacity of the new satellite is impressive. With the Ka-band, Star One D2 shall meet the demands of mobile telephone backhaul and shall also complement similar coverage available by Star One D1, further expanding entrepreneurial internet and broadband offerings in large parts of the Brazilian territory, in addition to allowing the use of corporate applications with high-quality data transmission.
The C-band and Ku-band will complement data, video and high-speed internet offerings for government organizations and large companies that operate in Mexico and South and Central America, in addition to expanding existing cell backhaul networks in Ku- and Ka-band on other Embratel satellites. The Ku-band may also be used for migration of TVRO signal, currently transmitted in the C-band, so that it will be able to meet this condition expected in the future implementation of 5G in Brazil. It will also make possible transmissions of pay-tv signals. The C-band capacity, in turn, will ensure the maintenance, distribution, and contribution of signals to enable the increase of content from large TV station affiliates.
“We will expand our offerings to include applications of entertainment, telemedicine, agribusiness, and remote education,” affirms Gustavo Silbert, Executive-Director of Embratel, emphasizing that the company already serves with its satellite services the largest companies in Brazil and Latin America, the major TV stations, independent channels, banks, and companies that use television, radio, telephone, internet, and data.
Star One D2 services may be contracted by companies and government bodies. “Deliveries start at the beginning of the satellite’s commercial operations phase, which will occur as soon as October 2021,” says Lincoln Oliveira, Director of Embratel Satellites Unit.
Star One D2 will be controlled from the largest and most modern center for satellite operations in Brazil and Latin America, located in Guaratiba (Rio de Janeiro – Brazil). As leader and precursor of solutions via satellite in Latin America, Embratel was the first company in the world to receive ISO certification for satellite control services made available from its center. The Guaratiba Satellite Control Service is ISO 9001:2015 certified, positioning the company as one of the most reliable in the world due to its modern technology and its highly qualified team.
Embratel is also accredited in accordance with Inmetro (National Institute of Metrology, Quality, and Technology) (Brazil) Standards, Ansi-Rab (United States), and RVA (Netherlands), besides actively participating in Space Data Association (SDA), the major institution that provides space surveillance services for satellite operators.