Pactel will now utilize multi-transponder capacity on SES’ NSS-9 satellite at the 183 degrees East orbital slot and the NSS-6 satellite at 95 degrees East to expand its voice and data service offerings within the Pacific region. The company said the expanded capacity would enable it to provide remote businesses across Australia, Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste with access to reliable and affordable connectivity.
   “The comprehensive coverage of both NSS-6 and NSS-9 have enabled us to expand our networks further, providing coverage to even the most remote Pacific islands,” Pactel CEO Andrew Taylor said in a statement. “The high-powered NSS-6 beam also means our customers require much smaller antennas to stay connected, making them much easier to install, while being both cost and space effective.”

   SES Senior Vice President of Asia-Pacific and Middle East Commercial Services Deepak Mathur said Pactel has had tremendous success in overcoming geographic challenges while offering broadband access to businesses in the region.  

   “We are pleased to have found a solution with NSS-6 for Pactel’s growing business needs and that we are able to continue playing a key role in connecting the remote businesses in the Asia-Pacific region,” said Mathur. “This contract with Pactel represents an important milestone in our already significant and growing partnership."

   Separately, SES announced that its Astra 2F satellite arrived at the European Spaceport in Kourou, where Arianespace will launch it aboard an Ariane 5 rocket on Sept. 21.

   EADS Astrium built the Astra 2F satellite based on the Eurostar E3000 platform to carry Ku- and Ka-band payloads for the delivery of high-performance DTH and next-generation broadband services in Europe, Middle East and Africa. Astra 2F also will feature a Ka-band payload that aims to further enhance SES’ broadband service.
   The multi-mission satellite will be located at the 28.2 degrees East orbital slot, representing the first of a series of three satellites that will be positioned at that location in several steps between 2012 and 2014. The second and third satellites, Astra 2E and Astra 2G, are currently scheduled for launch in the second quarter of 2013 and the first quarter of 2014, respectively.