Intelsat Sets Busy One-Year Mobility Network Launch Schedule
By Jeffrey Hill | March 19, 2012
[Satellite TODAY Insider 03-19-12] Intelsat’s Global Mobility Network, based on five satellites launching over the next 12 months, features infrastructure that will ultimately be comprised of 10 customized Ku-band mobility beams on seven satellites spread around the geostationary belt. Through this project, the FSS operator confirmed March 14 that it would become the first to offer continuous worldwide broadband coverage on a single fleet to maritime and aeronautical customers, backed by Automatic Beam Switching (ABS) technology.
The first launch of the Global Mobility Network initiative is Intelsat 22, which is currently planned for late March with Sea Launch. The satellite will be positioned at 72 degrees East orbital slot over the Indian Ocean region and will join the previously launched Intelsat 14 and Intelsat 18 satellites.
Intelsat 22 was designed to serve media, government and network services customers in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East with Ku- and C-band capacity, carrying an Ultra High Frequency (UHF) payload that will be used by the Australian Defense Force and its allies in the region.
Intelsat General President Kay Sears called Intelsat 22, “a prime example of what can be accomplished when governments think outside the box for their communications needs. Just three years after its contracted date, the Australians will have a critical on-orbit capability which saved them $150 million over free-flyer options, and provided them faster access to space than a traditional government procurement program.”
The satellite also will be used by Etisalat UAE, a telecommunications services provider in the Middle East, which signed a multi-year, multi-transponder agreement for capacity on Intelsat 22. Etisalat will use the capacity to expand its broadband and GSM backhaul services in the Middle East, Africa, Europe and central Asia.
“Our planned mobility infrastructure represents a major step forward for customers with on-the-move global communications needs,” Intelsat Senior Vice President of Global Sales Kurt Riegelman said in a statement. “Maritime and aeronautical customers will benefit from robust, always-on connections at true broadband speed.”
Intelsat will complete its mobility fabric as part of the initiative with the launches of Intelsat 19, 20, 21 and 27 during the next 12 months.