Alcatel Alenia Space has won a satellite contract from Ciel Satellite, a Canadian satellite services operator, the company announced March 16. Ciel Satellite has chosen Alcatel to build a new spacecraft to be known as Ciel-2 based on its Spacebus 4000 platform. The geosynchronous satellite will be operated by Ciel from 129 degrees West and will deliver services throughout North America.

The C4 will be the largest Spacebus class satellite ever built. A number of innovations will also complement the design; the all Ku-band satellite will feature high-frequency re-use and both regional and spot beams.

The Ciel-2 satellite is scheduled to launch in late 2008 and to operate for at least 16 years.