SES Astra said that it issued a request for proposals for the procurement of a new satellite to be named Astra 1M. The Astra 1M satellite will replace Astra 1H and provide in-orbit backup capacity for the Astra fleet at 19 degrees East. The satellite will carry 32 active Ku-band transponders. SES said the spacecraft is being procured ahead of schedule in order to protect the timing of the relocation of Astra 2C.

“Astra 1M’s primary mission is to replace Astra 1H, continuing the provision of premium capacity with full backup capacity, which is a unique feature of the Astra satellite system,” Ferdinand Kayser, president and CEO of SES Astra said in a prepared statement. “By slightly advancing the procurement of Astra 1M, we also will protect the timing of the move of Astra 2C to 28.2 degrees East, to secure the growth in the buoyant U.K. and Irish markets.”

Astra 2C is currently in service at 19 degrees East, but will be relocated to 28.2 degrees East following the successful launches of Astra 1KR and Astra 1L. The company did not give a time frame for those satellites’ launches.