[Satellite TODAY 11-10-11] International Launch Services (ILS) has signed a new launch contract with Eutelsat, the company announced Nov. 9. ILS will launch Eutelsat’s W3D satellite into geostationary transfer orbit on an ILS Proton rocket in 2013.

The W3D satellite is being built by Thales Alenia Space with a launch mass of approximately 5400 kg and a 15 year design life. The satellite will be located at 7 degrees East to deliver Ku-band coverage of Europe and Turkey for DTH reception, extensive Ku-band coverage across Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia for video links and data networks, and Ku-band coverage of Sub-Saharan Africa and Indian Ocean islands for telecommunications and Internet services. 

In other Eutelsat news, the operator has announced that its W3C satellite at 16 degrees East has now entered into full commercial service. The transfer of all traffic, including over 480 television channels, onto W3C from the Eurobird 16, W2M and Sesat 1 satellites was completed this morning by Eutelsat’s control center, working in close collaboration with clients and providers of uplink services.

Pay-TV platforms and public and private broadcasters using W3C include Serbia Broadband (SBB), Digitalb, TV Max, Tring and TV Romania that are addressing Central Europe via a high-power footprint optimised for the region. A second regional footprint centered over Madagascar and Indian Ocean islands is serving the Canal+ Overseas, Parabole Réunion and Orange platforms as well as France Télévisions to support digital switchover in Reunion Island and Mayotte.