EADS Astrium Kaptures KA-SAT

This company's first satellite operating exclusively in Ka-band frequencies will definitely expand capacity for consumer broadband services across Europe and the Mediterranean Basin. Eutelsat Communications has selected EADS Astrium to deliver this satellite which currently possesses the name of KA-SAT. The launch has been scheduled for Q3 of 2010 and KA-SAT will have more than 80 spotbeams. A network of eight gateways, managed by Eutelsat, will provide the access to the comsat and deliver all of the services to end users as an integral part of the new infrastructure.
 

 
Eutelsat will locate KA-SAT at 13° E, where it will join three HOT BIRD Ku-band broadcasting satellites. In advance and in preparation of KA-SAT, Eutelsat is using Ka-band capacity on its HOT BIRD 6 satellite for a new consumer broadband service called Tooway that was launched in Europe at the end of 2007. The service is operated by the Group’s broadband subsidiary Skylogic, in cooperation with ViaSat. Tooway uses ViaSat’s SurfBeam DOCSIS system. KA-SAT is the European equivalent to ViaSat-1, a high-capacity Ka-band broadband satellite ordered by ViaSat to serve the North American market and planned to launch in 2011