Amos 17 C-band coverage over Africa. Photo: Spacecom.

Spacecom announced that its Amos 17 communication satellite has successfully completed its Critical Design Review (CDR) and entered full production. Specifically designed for the African continent and scheduled for launch in early 2019, Amos17 will operate from 17 degrees east to expand and strengthen Spacecom’s coverage in Africa, the Middle East and Europe.

The satellite, a replacement for Spacecom’s Amos 5, will offer Ka-band, Ku-band and C-Band High Throughput Satellite (HTS) services, combining broad regional beams and high throughput spot beams to maximize throughput and spectral efficiency. The satellite’s in-orbit life is expected to be 19 years.

Boeing Satellite Systems International is building the satellite and SpaceX will send it into orbit on a Falcon 9 launch vehicle. Spacecom announced last month that it would recoup the funds from its failed attempt to launch Amos 6 last year to cover the costs for orbiting Amos 17.