Eutelsat orders HOT BIRD™ 10

Eutelsat Communications today announced that Astrium will build the HOT BIRD™ 10 broadcast satellite which will be launched in first quarter 2009 and positioned at the Group’s 13 degrees East location. Following HOT BIRD™ 8 and 9, it is the third high-power broadcast satellite based on Astrium’s Eurostar E3000 platform that will be located at Eutelsat’s premium video neighbourhood for cable and satellite broadcasting.

Astrium’s Eurostar E3000 platform was selected by Eutelsat for the HOT BIRD™ 8 satellite, which went into full commercial service this month, and HOT BIRD™ 9 which was ordered from Astrium in May this year. With each satellite equipped with 64 high-power Ku-band transponders spanning the entire range of 102 Ku-band frequencies at 13 degrees East, they will together deliver customers exceptional levels of security and in-orbit redundancy for the development of digital entertainment services and HDTV channels.

HOT BIRD™ 10’s deployment in 2009 will also enable Eutelsat to pursue its objective to develop video activities at other orbital locations. The new satellite will release the Group’s HOT BIRD™ 7A satellite from 13 degrees East in order for it to be repositioned at the 10 degrees East neighbourhood. The proximity of these two neighbourhoods enables reception of channels from both positions with a single antenna equipped with a dual feed.

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