BAIKONUR SPACE CENTER, Kazakhstan, February 27 /PRNewswire/ --
- Satellite Connects North America, Europe and Africa; Serves Growing Demand For Mobile Broadband From Maritime and Aero Markets
Telesat, the world's fourth largest fixed satellite services operator, has successfully launched its state-of-the-art Telstar 11N satellite. Telstar 11N will be located at 37.5 degrees West and utilize 39 high powered Ku-band transponders to support a wide range of video and data applications in North America, Europe and Africa and across the Atlantic Ocean.
Telstar 11N marks a significant expansion in Telesat's international fleet and will contribute to our anticipated growth in 2009 and for years to come, said Dan Goldberg, President and CEO of Telesat. This powerful new satellite will bring additional Ku-band capacity to underserved markets, such as Africa and the Atlantic Ocean region, and allows us to complement the coverage of Telesat's highly utilized Telstar 12 satellite at 15 degrees West.
Telstar 11N is the first satellite to provide Ku-band coverage of the Atlantic Ocean from the Arctic Circle to the equator. Commercial and government customers in shipping and aviation can use this capability to accelerate the deployment of cost-effective, full-time mobile broadband solutions using very small aperture terminals, or VSATs. The satellite's coverage of Africa will promote the implementation of broadband and video services across the continent and enable a broad range of users to seamlessly connect their African operations with Europe and North America.
Telesat's Newest Satellite
Telstar 11N was launched on a Zenit-3SLB rocket from the Baikonur Space Center in the Republic of Kazakhstan at 12:30 a.m. local time. Telesat's tracking station in Gnangara, Australia (near Perth) acquired a signal from the satellite shortly after spacecraft separation, about six hours after liftoff.
Telstar 11N was manufactured by Space Systems/Loral (SS/L), and Sea Launch provided mission management with its Land Launch partner, Space International Services Ltd. The satellite will enter into commercial service after it has successfully completed orbit raising and comprehensive in-orbit testing.
Telstar 11N uses SS/L's proven 1300 platform, has a solar array span of 31 meters, an expected 15-year mission life, and a launch mass of approximately 4012 kg.
About Telesat (http://www.telesat.com)
Headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, with offices and facilities around the world, Telesat is the fourth-largest fixed satellite services operator. The company provides reliable and secure satellite-delivered communications solutions to broadcast, telecom, corporate and government customers. Telesat now has a global state-of-the-art fleet of 13 satellites, with another satellite under construction, and manages the operations of 13 additional satellites for third parties. Telesat is privately held. Its principal shareholders are Canada's Public Sector Pension Investment Board and Loral Space Communications Inc. (NASDAQ: LORL).
For further information: Daniel Tisch, +1-416-968-7311, dtisch@argylecommunications.com; Gerry Nagler, +1-908-698-4907, gnagler@telesat.com
For further information: Daniel Tisch, +1-416-968-7311, dtisch@argylecommunications.com; Gerry Nagler, +1-908-698-4907, gnagler@telesat.com
Comments