Rendition of the all-electric Eutelsat 172B satellite. Photo: Eutelsat.

Eutelsat Communications’ all-electric Eutelsat 172B satellite that went into full commercial service this morning is now offering enhanced flexibility, power and connectivity for users in a region stretching from the West coast of the Americas to Asia, Oceania and across the Pacific, the company stated.

The operator completed transfer of services to Eutelsat 172B from Eutelsat 172A in a series of overnight maneuvers, releasing Eutelsat 172A for an alternative orbital position to serve customers in the Asia-Pacific region.

Launched in June this year, Eutelsat 172B set a new benchmark as the fastest satellite to reach Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) using electric propulsion (in only four months), according to Eutelsat. Its High Throughput Satellite (HTS) payload, consisting of 11 spotbeams, will enable power to be dynamically allocated as aircraft fly high traffic routes in the Asia-Pacific region. This step change will allow Panasonic Avionics, the major client of the payload, to better meet passenger demand and cost-effectively ensure consistently high levels of service to airlines, Eutelsat stated.

In addition to the HTS payload, Eutelsat 172B significantly increases regular bandwidth at the 172 degrees east position, with C-band capacity as well as flexible Ku-band capacity spread across five interconnecting widebeam service areas. Beyond maritime, video, enterprise, cellular backhaul and government services, the Ku-band capacity will serve as an overlay to deliver live television to passengers in-flight.