Arianespace received a contract from Mitsubishi Electric Corp. to launch the Superbird-7 communications satellite in the first quarter of 2008, Arianespace announced April 10.

Superbird-7 is being built by Mitsubishi for Space Communications Corp., is based on a DS2000 platform and will carry 28 Ku-band transponders. The satellite will be placed at 144º E to provide communications services, including video and audio broadcast to home and mobile terminals, in the Asia-Pacific region.