Tags: New Dawn, Intelsat, Africa, Convergence Partners
Publication Date: 11/07/2012

New Dawn satellite getting ready to meet Ariane 5, the rocket where it was launched. Image credit: Intelsat

Intelsat has become the sole owner and operator of the New Dawn satellite. Convergence Partners and the consortium of South African investors it led have exited the venture started in 2008.

Originally the project’s goal was to provide vital communications infrastructure for customers in the region, promoting growth and development. According to reports, a technical anomaly that caused one of the satellite’s reflectors to not deploy hindered that goal to the point where Convergence Partners was no longer interested in participating.

New Dawn was launched in 2011 and commercial services on the operational Ku-band payload started in June 2012. It also provides the MCPC platform for a growing digital television market in the region.

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