[Satellite TODAY Insider 12-02-11] Telenor Satellite Broadcasting (TSBc) has signed a capacity deal with Norsk Romsenter Eiendom to provide capacity on its Thor 7 satellite, which is set to launch in 2013. TSBc announced the capacity deal Dec. 1.

            The capacity on Thor 7 will provide the Norwegian troll base located at the South Pole with increased satellite capacity for the distribution of key meteorological data from the research station, Trollsat. The additional capacity will also provide faster and more stable broadband connections essential for employees working at the base, as its current data capacity is limited. TSBc will provide a dedicated link from Antarctica for Kongsberg Satellite Services (KSAT), utilizing dedicated satellite capacity on Thor 7. The link will be used to distribute meteorological and environmental data for research environments and will be sent to Nittedal, TSBc’s largest teleport for further distribution to Europe and the United States.       

            Hege Lunde, Business Development Director, TSBc told Satellite Today Insider that this was an important deal regarding the transmission of meteorological data. “The agreement provides much needed additional transmission capacity for KSAT to support the delivery of a substantial increase in demand for observational data from the Antarctic to the rest of the world. TSBc is providing a dedicated link which meets the customer requirements and the arrangements have the flexibility to meet further expansion over time,” he said.

            Thor 7, which is the biggest satellite TSBc has procured, will launch in the next two years. As far as the target markets for capacity on this satellite, Lunde said, “Thor 7 includes two payloads, a Ka-band payload for maritime use and a Ku-band DTH payload with CEE coverage. We are seeing a great interest from the maritime sector and are working with customers to fufill their current and future requirements using Ku-band capacity and Ka-band capacity on Thor 7. Our broadcast payload will serve the growth of our existing customers and allow us to reach out for further DTH operators on one degree West. TSBc is targeting the maritime market, not the residential market as the terrestrial broadband operators already have a very good coverage in the Nordic region.”