Space Systems Loral, an MDA subsidiary, has been chosen to build a communications satellite for an Intelsat–Azercosmos alliance to deliver direct-to-home broadcasting and broadband connectivity services in some parts of the world.
Intelsat and Azercosmos plan to launch an SSL-made satellite into an orbital location of 45 degrees East in an effort to provide communication services across Europe, Central and South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East, MDA said Tuesday.
Thierry Guillemin, executive vice president and chief technical officer of Intelsat, said the company aims to help “meet the content distribution demands of viewers in Central Europe and Asia and provide corporate networks in Africa with the broadband connectivity they need to build and expand their businesses.”
The Azerspace-2/Intelsat 38 satellite will be based upon SSL’s 1300 Series platform and is scheduled to launch in 2017.
MDA said it will facilitate radar Earth observation-related knowledge transfer to Azercosmos through the partnership.