Eutelsat Successfully Launched Eutelsat 7C

Paris, France, June 21, 2019 — Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL) has confirmed the successful launch of Eutelsat 7C. The satellite was lifted into space from Kourou, French Guiana by an Ariane 5 rocket at 23h43 CET (21h43 UTC) on June 20.

Manufactured by Maxar Technologies, Eutelsat 7C is a 3.4 ton high-power broadcast satellite which will serve markets across Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Turkey, through 49 36-Mhz equivalent Ku-band transponders. The satellite will be co-located with Eutelsat 7B at 7° East, increasing capacity for this dynamic neighborhood by 19 transponders. It is due to enter into commercial service at the end of this year.

Currently co-located with Eutelsat 7B, Eutelsat 7A will be transferred to another orbital location as part of Eutelsat’s fleet optimization strategy.

Rodolphe Belmer, CEO of Eutelsat, said: “Eutelsat 7C will allow us to further develop our 7° East video neighborhood, with two co-located high-power satellites providing the best possible support to customers in this vibrant market. We are delighted to have benefitted from Maxar’s state-of-the-art technology and to celebrate yet another successful launch with Arianespace.”

Arianespace launched two telecommunications satellites tonight on June 20 marking the company’s 310th flight overall and underscoring its ability to deliver “any payload to any orbit at any time” from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.

Conducted from the ELA-3 launch pad, the mission deployed an estimated payload lift performance of 10,594 kg. to geostationary transfer orbit. T-16 was released first in the sequence, separating from Ariane 5 27 minutes after liftoff, followed six minutes later by its Eutelsat 7C co-passenger.

T-16 – produced in France by Airbus Defence and Space, based on the Eurostar 3000 LX Hybrid platform – will provide high-power broadcast services in Ku- and Ka-bands.