SES may see its most energetic year for Latin America expansion in 2012. The company recently launched its much-awaited SES-4 20-kilowatt satellite with full coverage of the Americas and a global beam to support mobile and maritime customers. SES also recently relocated its AMC-3 satellite from its former location of 87 degrees West to 67 degrees West to optimize coverage of Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. The drift was initiated in January and the satellite arrived at its new orbital location on Feb. 24.

    The AMC-3 satellite, launched in 2010, has enough fuel to operate in geostationary orbit until 2017. At 67 degrees West, AMC-3 will be co-located with the AMC-4 satellite, which has been providing services over Latin America and the Caribbean since its deployment at this position in 2010. The AMC-3 satellite aims to provide expansion capacity in Latin America for a range of applications, such as rural telecommunications, VSAT networks, e-learning, pay-TV and mobile broadband.

   February was a busy month for SES in the region. Media Networks Latin America (MNLA) signed a long-term contract with SES Feb. 16 to secure capacity for its Telefonica Digital unit in Central America and the Caribbean. MNLA said the milestone partnership would allow the company to launch a new DTH wholesale pay-TV service that combines international and regional SD and HD channels using multiple transponders on SES’ AMC-4 satellite. AMC-4, located at the 67 degrees West orbital slot, also allows MNLA to extend its coverage other future growth markets with its existing ground infrastructure, including its teleport in Lima, Peru.

   MNLA CTO Pedro Planas said the re-located SES satellite provided the ideal coverage, spectrum and DTH experience to expand into new markets throughout Latin America. “Our long-term agreement with SES represents a strategic partnership aimed at meeting the increasing demand from our customers, the existing and new pay-TV operators in the region, and will allow us to continue offering a growing lineup of compelling content,” Planas said in a statement.

   SES CCO Ferdinand Kayser said the partnership with MNLA was of high strategic importance for the operator. “[The deal] is further proof that satellite can ideally complement and strengthen the offer of telecommunications companies,” said Kayser. “SES sees itself as a perfect partner for telecommunications companies, connecting interactive and television services. SES is committed to the long-term success, growth and innovation of such services throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. We look forward to playing an important role in the expansion and future growth of Media Networks Latin America’s DTH business in Central America, the Caribbean and beyond.”

   SES CEO Romain Bausch said that his company’s South American developments continued apace in 2011. “TIBA, the Argentina-based cable network services provider throughout the region, contracted additional capacity on the SES-6 satellite that is to be launched in 2013, to satisfy the rising demand for new channels and HD content. The sports network ESPN Brazil took additional capacity for regional HD distribution. AxeSat, a regional broadband provider, extended its contract to two transponders on AMC-4 at the 67 degrees West slot to support demand from corporate customers across the Latin American and Caribbean markets.”

   SES also is looking to increase its stake in O3b Networks, which looks to serve emerging broadband markets including Latin America. Its current 39 percent interest in outstanding shares will rise to approximately 45 percent in 2013, as funding commitments are met and contributions in kind are recognized. O3b is on schedule for launch of its first four satellites in the first quarter of 2013, with the second batch of four to be launched in second quarter of that year.

   SES will launch two more satellites in 2012 — SES-5 in the middle of the year from Baikonur and the Astra 2F satellite in the fourth quarter.