Eutelsat has announced that its latest satellite, EUTELSAT 8 West B, has arrived at the European spaceport in French Guiana and is now in final stages of preparation for launch by an Ariane 5 rocket on 20 August.
EUTELSAT 8 West B is poised to open a new chapter of expansion in vibrant broadcast markets in the Middle East and North Africa. It will shore up the 7/8° West position, hosting Eutelsat and Nilesat satellites that is the point of reference for TV viewing in over 52 million homes from Morocco to the Gulf. With the launch of this new satellite, Eutelsat is ensuring that bandwidth is available for broadcasters to deliver High Definition today and the immersive viewing experience of Ultra HD in the future.
Built for Eutelsat by Thales Alenia Space, the 5.8 tonne satellite is equipped with 40 operational Ku-band transponders optimised to serve DTH markets in North Africa and the Middle East. It will also introduce a C-band mission of 10 operational transponders connected to a vast footprint covering the African continent and reaching west to South America.
The satellite will go into full commercial service early October following checks to validate its performance in orbit.
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