The Ex-Im Bank authorized a $228 million loan guarantee for Hispasat in 2011 to purchase a Ku-band satellite with a Ka-band option for television broadcasting in Latin America. The satellite, Amazonas 3, is being built by Space Systems/Loral (SS/L) and will be launched by Arianespace in late 2012.

   The Ex-Im Bank also authorized a $160.5 million loan guarantee to Hispasat in 2010, which the operator used to purchase a Ku-band satellite for television broadcasting in Europe, Latin America and North Africa. The satellite, also known as 1E, was launched in December 2010.

   “These satellite deals are already supporting more than 260 full-time American jobs,” Ex-Im Bank President and Chairman Fred Hochberg said in a statement. “Hispasat is a truly innovative company … These deals pave the way for future Ex-Im Bank support for Hispasat’s U.S. satellite purchases and, quite possibly, for Ex-Im support for launches from newly emerging U.S. launch providers.”