The Russian Satellite Communications Co. said its Express-AM1 satellite went into operation at 40 degrees East on Feb. 1. The satellite was launched last October and is designed for federal television and radio broadcasting, and special-purpose satellite communications network deployment through its nine C- and 18 Ku-band traffic. It also can handle telephony, videoconferencing, data transmission and broadband Internet access traffic. The Express-AM1 satellite is the first in the Express-AM series equipped with an L- band transponder for government use. It is the third of five Express-AM satellites to be launched by the end of 2005 and has an operational life of 12 years. NEC/Toshiba Space Systems manufactured the satellite’s payload.