[Satellite TODAY 10-10-12] SES has chosen Boeing to build SES-9 – a new communication satellite aiming to expand SES’ capabilities to serve the increasingly growing Asian markets, SES and Boeing announced Oct. 10.
SES-9 will be the operator’s 11th spacecraft built by Boeing. The most recent contract includes an option for an additional satellite.
The new SES-9 is based on the Boeing 702 HP platform and designed to reduce the launch weight of the spacecraft yet allow for maximum payload capacity. SES hopes the new satellite will provide the operator with increased capability to deliver communications services, such as DTH broadcasting communications, to Northeast Asia, South Asia and Indonesia, along with maritime communications to vessels in the Indian Ocean.
“We look forward to work again with Boeing on an important addition to our global fleet: SES-9 will greatly expand our transmission capacity over Asia, while adding increased flexibility and redundancy to a strategic orbital slot,” SES President and CEO Romain Bausch said in a statement. “SES is convinced that Boeing’s 702HP will prove to be mission-critical in order to provide state-of-the-art, high-power satellite capacity to the thriving markets of Asia."
