Eutelsat 10B satellite. Photo: Thales Alenia Space

A new Eutelsat satellite has entered service. The operator announced Monday that Eutelsat 10B is now in service at 10 degrees East, after SpaceX launched the satellite in November. Thales Alenia Space built the satellite on its Spacebus NEO platform. 

Eutelsat 10B is a multi-mission satellite with two multi-beam high-throughput Ku-band payloads for maritime and aviation connectivity, and also two widebeam payloads in C-band and in Ku-band to to continue the video services on Eutelsat 10A, whose operational life will end later this year. 

The operator has multi-year capacity commitments with maritime and in-flight connectivity providers including Panasonic and Intelsat. The satellite will also provide capacity for Eutelsat’s end-to-end managed service, Advance. 

Cyril Dujardin, general manager for Eutelsat’s Connectivity business unit, said the satellite provides new resources to complement the operators Geostationary Orbit and Low-Earth Orbit (GEO/LEO) offering. 

“Eutelsat 10B satellite will boost our global connectivity services with High Throughput capacity, to meet increasing in-flight and maritime demand. [It’s] Ku-band payload complements the Ka-band of the Eutelsat Konnect VHTS satellite, that will enter into service progressively in autumn, reflecting our ability to serve our customers in both Ka- and Ku-bands with the best-in-class space assets,” Dujardin said.