[Satellite TODAY 07-01-10] Eutelsat Communications has selected Astrium to build the W5A satellite based on its Eurostar E3000 platform, the operator announced June 30.
    Scheduled for launch in the 2010 fourth quarter, the 48-transponder W5A Ku-band satellite will be located at 70.5 degrees East and replace the W5 spacecraft. In addition to expanding available capacity at the orbital slot, W5A will be used for a range of professional applications that include government services, broadband access, GSM backhauling and professional video in Europe, Africa and Central and Southeast Asia.
   “Through a high degree of on-board connectivity, clients will be able to use the beams either for regional coverage or to interconnect continents. This will support high-growth services that include secure government communications in Central Asia through hubs located in the region or in Europe, business networks between Southeast Asia and Africa, and direct connectivity between Europe and Australia,” Eutelsat CEO Michel de Rosen said in a statement.
   W5A is the 10th telecommunication satellite awarded to Astrium in the past 18 months. The W5A construction contract is part of Eutelsat’s 450 million euros ($551.1 million) per-year capital expenditure program, which extends to June 2012. Astrium is scheduled to deliver the Ka-Sat satellite to Eutelsat later this year, followed by Atlantic Bird 7 in 2011 and W5A in 2012.