International Launch Services (ILS) successfully placed the Intelsat 22 satellite into a super-synchronous transfer orbit onboard a Proton M rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan and the spacecraft’s manufacturer Boeing Space & Intelligence Systems has received its first signals, the companies confirmed March 26.    
   FSS operator Intelsat will use the new satellite to provide C- and Ku-band capacity to its media, government and network services customers in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. Intelsat 22 will also host a specialized UHF communications payload for the Australian Defense Force (ADF) when it becomes operational in May. The satellite replaces the Intelsat 709 spacecraft at the 72 degrees East orbital slot.    
   Intelsat CEO Dave McGlade called the launch of Intelsat 22 a significant milestone for the company’s long-term government strategy. “The launch demonstrates the viability of hosted payloads in delivering customized space solutions for government users,” McGlade said in a statement. “On time and on budget, the delivery of the UHF payload for the Australian Defense Force successfully demonstrates how hosted payloads are embraced by governments seeking cost-efficient access to space.”