A Proton rocket launches Russia’s Express-80 and Express-103 satellites (Photo: RSCC)

The Russian Satellite Communications Company (RSCC) successfully placed two new satellites, Express-80 and Express-103, in geostationary orbit at 80 degrees East and 96.5 degrees East, respectively. The satellites will provide fixed and mobile services, digital TV and radio broadcasting, and high-speed internet across the Russian Federation and abroad.

RSCC launched the two new satellites on a Proton rocket last Thursday afternoon from Russia’s Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. RSCC operates Russia’s largest fleet of GEO satellites, with 10 operating in the C-, Ku-, Ka- and L-bands.

“With two newly-launched satellites, Express-80 and Express-103, the throughput of our constellation is now upby a quarter,” said RSCC acting Director General Yuri Prokhorov. “It is crucial for RSCC that these spacecrafts in orbital slots centered over the Russian Federation are already demanded by our customers. This will allow telecom operators to transfer their networks from foreign spacecraft and provide domestic subscribers with the most advanced digital communications and broadcasting services, including Internet access for maritime and aerial customers.”