Hotbird 7A satellite ordered.
Press release Hotbird 7A on order - 28th July 2003.
Eutelsat selects Alcatel to build HOTBIRD 7A satellite
Paris, July 28, 2003 - Alcatel Space, a subsidiary of Alcatel (Paris: CGEP.PA and NYSE:
ALA) and Eutelsat S.A., one of the world's leading satellite operators, today announced
the signature of a contract for the construction of the HOTBIRD 7A communications
satellite. The order for this new satellite follows the loss of HOTBIRD 7 during launch
last December. In addition to the original specifications, HOTBIRD 7A's mission has been
expanded to provide additional back-up and replacement capacity at Eutelsat's key orbital
slot, 13 degrees East, the world's leading neighbourhood for satellite television
broadcasting. This expanded mission has led to the choice of a larger, more flexible
satellite platform than for the original version.
HOTBIRD 7A will be based on Alcatel Space's Spacebus 3000 B3 platform. Launch is planned
for the autumn of 2005, when the new satellite will join Eutelsat's HOTBIRD family of
satellites co-located at the 13 degree East slot and reaching 100 million houses, and
currently broadcasting 676 video channels and 565 audio channels. Equipped with 38 Ku-band
transponders of 33 MHz minimum each (end of life), HOTBIRD 7A will replace HOT BIRD 1. The
other 20 transponders will be available for potential back-up and replacement capacity for
the HOTBIRD 2, 3 and 4 satellites. HOTBIRD 7A has a design life of 15 years.
HOTBIRD 7A will be assembled and integrated in the clean rooms at Alcatel Space's Cannes
and Toulouse plants in southern France. It will weigh about 4,000 kg at launch, and its
solar panels will provide 10 kW of electrical power.
Following the contract signature, Eutelsat CEO Giuliano Berretta said: "HOTBIRD 7A
will enable us to increase our capacity at the 13 degree East slot to 102 transponders
dedicated to broadcast services for Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, regions in
which Eutelsat has a penetration rate of 80 percent of the households with satellite or
cable TV reception. The new satellite is very flexible as well, which enables it to
potentially replace three other HOTBIRD satellites if necessary. This latest order
reflects our commitment to maintaining, at this key orbital broadcasting position, a young
fleet of satellites and to consolidating our back-up capabilities."
"We are very proud of winning the HOTBIRD 7A satellite contract against a tough
international field of competitors," said Pascale Sourisse, Chairman and CEO of
Alcatel Space. "We would like to reiterate our thanks to Eutelsat for their continued
confidence in our company. HOTBIRD 7A is in fact the 16th satellite* that Alcatel Space
will build for Eutelsat. Following orders from operators in South Korea, Africa and
Brazil, the European leading operator has chosen our company. With four satellite
contracts announced by Alcatel Space in less than two months, we continue to confirm our
leadership in the communications satellite market."
* 5 EUTELSAT II (F1 to F5), 2 HOTBIRD (HB1, HB6), 4 EUTELSAT W (W2 to W5), SESAT (with
NPO-PM), EUROBIRD and 2 ATLANTIC BIRD (AB2, AB3).
About Eutelsat
With capacity commercialised on 23 satellites that provide coverage from the Americas to
the Pacific, Eutelsat S.A. is one of the world's leading satellite operators. Eutelsat's
satellite infrastructure gives it the flexibility to offer direct-to-home broadcasting,
video distribution and contribution services, corporate network solutions and a portfolio
of IP applications including broadband Internet access and Internet backbone connections.
As a total, Eutelsat's satellites broadcast more than 1300
television and 800 radio stations and reach an overall audience of 107 million cable and
satellite homes.
About Alcatel Space
Alcatel Space, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Alcatel, is the world's third largest
satellite manufacturer and Number 1 in Europe. Deploying extensive dual expertise in civil
and military applications, Alcatel Space develops satellite solutions for
telecommunications, navigation, radar and optical observation, meteorology and science.
The company is also the leading European prime contractor for earth observation,
meteorology and navigation ground segments, and for space system operation.
About Alcatel
Alcatel provides end-to-end communications solutions, enabling carriers, service providers
and enterprises to deliver content to any type of user, anywhere in the world. Leveraging
its long-term leadership in telecommunications network equipment as well as its expertise
in applications and network services, Alcatel enables its customers to focus on optimizing
their service offerings and revenue streams. With sales of EURO 16.5 billion in 2002,
Alcatel operates in more than 130 countries.
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