Eutelsat Communications confirmed the entry into service of the multi-mission high-capacity EUTELSAT 10B satellite at the 10°East orbital position.
EUTELSAT 10B is carrying two multi-beam High-Throughput Satellite (HTS) Ku-band payloads: a payload covering the North Atlantic corridor, Europe, the Mediterranean basin, and the Middle East, offering significant throughput in the busiest air and sea traffic zones, and a second payload to extend coverage across the Atlantic Ocean, Africa, and the Indian Ocean.
EUTELSAT 10B is also carrying two widebeam payloads in C-band and in Ku-band to ensure continuity of the video services on the EUTELSAT 10A satellite, whose operational life is scheduled to end later this year. The 10° East location that EUTELSAT 10B occupies has been operated by Eutelsat since 1987.
Built by Thales Alenia Space, EUTELSAT 10B is an all-electric satellite based on the Spacebus NEO platform. It carries a 5th generation digital transparent processor, offering capacity allocation flexibility and an optimal spectrum use. The satellite’s HTS payloads will be able to process more than 50 GHz of bandwidth, offering a throughput of approximately 35 Gbps.
Cyril Dujardin, General Manager for the Connectivity Business Unit, said: “EUTELSAT 10B satellite will boost our global connectivity services with High Throughput capacity, to meet increasing in-flight and maritime demand. EUTELSAT 10B’s Ku-band payload complements the Ka-band of the EUTELSAT KONNECT VHTS satellite, that will enter into service progressively in Autumn, reflecting our ability to serve our customers in both Ka- and Ku-bands with the best-in-class space assets. Moreover, this satellite brings innovative new resources that will be able to complement Eutelsat’s GEO-LEO offering.”
