Thor 7 in the Compact Antenna Test Range (CATR). Photo: SSL

[Via Satellite 05-12-2016] Telenor Satellite has deemed its Ka-band mobility service on the Thor 7 satellite as commercial ready following an extensive testing program. Thor 7 launched on April 27, 2015 carrying a Ku-band payload for TV services in Central and Eastern Europe, and Telenor’s first High Throughput Satellite (HTS) Ka-band payload, designed specifically for the mobility VSAT market in Europe.

Since the commercial handover of the Thor 7 satellite in June 2015, Telenor Satellite has been carrying out a Ka-band testing program prior to its commercial launch. The final testing phase involved more than 15 customers running sea trials on approximately 30 vessels, with up to 50 remote terminals testing the service across the satellite’s footprint. The operator is now launching the official mobility service, which offers 6 to 9 Gbps throughput with up to 25 simultaneously active spot beams. Supported by the iDirect Velocity platform, Telenor Satellite is able to offer automatic and seamless spot-beam handover, assuring continuous connectivity across the entire satellite footprint.

The SSL-built Thor 7 satellite is Telenor’s first growth satellite. In addition to targeting the broadcast and mobility VSAT markets, Telenor Satellite has sold a lifetime capacity lease on Thor 7 to Space Norway to provide Norway’s Troll research station in Antarctica with increased satellite capacity for the distribution of key meteorological data.