Intelsat 33e HTS Begins Service, Extends Intelsat EpicNG’s Coverage

Intelsat-33e. Photo: Intelsat

Intelsat has announced that Intelsat 33e, the second of the Intelsat EpicNG High Throughput Satellites (HTS), successfully completed all in-orbit testing and entered service on January, 29 2017. Manufactured by Boeing and launched in August 2016, Intelsat 33e, operating from 60 degrees east, will extend Intelsat’s HTS services in C-, Ku- and Ka-band to Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, Mediterranean and Indian Ocean regions, according to Intelsat. The company plans to use this capacity to enable the delivery of enterprise-grade, broadband services to fixed and mobile network operators, aeronautical and maritime mobility service providers, and government customers. Intelsat 33e’s spot beams will also enable the distribution of regionalized content for media customers operating in the region.

Among the customers committed to Intelsat 33e are: Global Eagle Entertainment (GEE), Speedcast, Marlink, Gogo, Panasonic Avionics, Pakistani internet service provider SuperNet Limited, Telkom South Africa, Orange Cameroon, IP Planet, Vodacom, Djibouti Telecom, MultiChoice of South Africa, and Russian network service provider Romantis.

Africa Mobile Networks (AMN) is also a customer and will use Intelsat EpicNG to help mobile network operators expand in these areas in a cost-effective manner and deliver social, economic, educational and other benefits to the population. Additionally, Skot Butler, president of Intelsat General Corporation, says Intelsat 33e’s coverage will provide ideal support for the U.S. Department of Defense mobility applications.

Intelsat EpicNG services were launched in March 2016 with Intelsat 29e, which is located at 310 degrees east and offers a footprint spanning the Americas, the Caribbean, Eastern United States and the North Atlantic region. Three additional Intelsat EpicNG satellites — Intelsat 32e, Intelsat 35e and Intelsat 37e — are scheduled for this year. Intelsat EpicNG’s global footprint will be completed with Horizons 3e, which is to be stationed at 169 degrees east with a launch planned in the second half of 2018. Horizons 3e will extend Intelsat EpicNG’s coverage to the Pacific Ocean Region and further expand Intelsat EpicNG’s presence in Asia Pacific.