Telesat Canada awarded a contract to EADS Astrium to build the Nimiq 4 direct broadcast satellite, the companies announced.

The spacecraft, based on the E3000 platform, will carry 32 Ku-band and eight Ka-band transponders to provide TV coverage from an orbital location of 82º West. This is the third Telesat contract won by EADS Astrium in three years. Anik F1R entered service in October, while Anik F3 is scheduled for launch aboard a Russian Proton later this year.

International Launch Services (ILS) received will launch Nimiq 4 satellite on a Proton Breeze M vehicle in 2008.