Telstar 12V, Telesat’s satellite with high throughput spot beams. Photo: Telesat.

[Via Satellite 12-16-2015] Telesat’s recently launched Telstar 12 Vantage satellite has initiated full commercial operations at its 15 degrees west orbital location. The satellite entered orbit three weeks ago via a Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) H2A rocket from the Tanegashima Space Center in Japan, and provides coverage from the Americas to Europe and the Middle East.

Airbus Defence and Space built the Telstar 12 Vantage satellite, which combines broad regional beams and high throughput spot beams to support broadcast and enterprise networks on the ground, in the air and at sea. The satellite uses Ku band for all customer services and is backwards compatible with existing Ku-band terminal equipment.