[Satellite Today 03-16-09] Thales Alenia Space won a contract to build Eutelsat’s W3C satellite, Eutelsat said March 12.
W3C satellite will be based on the Spacebus 4000 platform and be equipped with 56 transponders. The satellite is scheduled for launch in the third quarter of 2011 and is intended to provide Ku-band coverage of Europe with a beam centered over central Europe and Turkey; provide Ku-band coverage across Extended Europe, including North Africa and the Middle East as far as central Asia; and provide Ku-band coverage of sub-Saharan Africa and Indian Ocean islands for regional telecommunications and Internet services.
W3C will be co-positioned with W3A to expand capacity at 7 degrees East from 44 to 70 transponders. The co-positioning of both satellites underscores Eutelsat’s objective to transform 7 degrees East into a flagship position, repeating the multi-satellite strategy pursued at 13 degrees East.
Eutelsat said the decision to order the W3C satellite was taken after it decided not to integrate its W2M satellite into its fleet following an anomaly which occurred during its transfer from the location used for in-orbit tests to its operating position at 16 degrees East where its mission was to replace well in advance Eutelsat’s W2 satellite. As a result of this incident, Eutelsat decided that the W3B satellite, which is already a year into construction, will replace W2 in mid-2010.