Intelsat has launched the first of its new Epic next generation telecommunication satellites from French Guiana aboard an Ariane 5 rocket.
Named Intelsat 29e, the satellite will be used for data communications from broadband Internet to machine-to-machine communications.
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Intelsat 29e is said to have incorporated an advanced digital payload on a commercial spacecraft. It is claimed to bring high throughput capacity in both C and Ku-band to North and Latin America, as well as the North Atlantic region.
It is the 56th Intelsat satellite launched by Arianespace. The Boeing-built satellite will be placed in service at 310° East, where it replaces Intelsat 1R.
Intelsat CEO Stephen Spengler said: "Today’s launch represents a truly epic moment in communication history, as we begin a new era of high throughput satellite services for our customers."
The next Epic satellite, Intelsat 33e, which will serve Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia, is expected to be launched in the second half of this year. Intelsat ordered more than 40 satellites from Boeing.
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By GlobalDataBoeing Satellite Systems International president Mark Spiwak said: "Boeing’s digital satellite technology enables Intelsat to shift bandwidth to where it is needed most over the life of the satellite, enabling their customers to rapidly adapt and meet changing market demands."
Intelsat Epic is optimised to offer satellite connectivity for the Internet of Things, enterprise, wireless infrastructure, aeronautical and maritime mobility, as well as government applications.
Through the Intelsat Epic platform, the company aims to introduce high throughput technology into the world’s largest community of enterprise-grade satellite networks that operate on its fleet.
Intelsat Epic enables customers to use currently deployed network hardware to access high performance connectivity. The platform’s open architecture enables them to have control on service offerings and hardware selection.
Image: Ariane 5 lifts off on VA228. Photo: courtesy of the European Space Agency.
