EUTELSAT 115 West B Stacked Photo Released in Preparation for Q1 2015 Launch

Eutelsat Communications (NYSE Euronext Paris: ETL) announces a new milestone in the manufacturing of the EUTELSAT 115 West B satellite following successful pairing with its co-passenger satellite by prime contractor, Boeing Defense & Space. The satellite is on track for launch by Space X using the Falcon 9 launcher during the first quarter of 2015. EUTELSAT 115 West B and its co-passenger will be the first-ever all-electric propulsion satellites to enter service.

EUTELSAT 115 West B satellite (Photo: Business Wire)

The brand new EUTELSAT 115 West B will open new markets for the Eutelsat Americas unit of Eutelsat in Alaska in C-band and in Canada in Ku-Band. It will also consolidate the data neighbourhood at the 114.9◦W orbital position by strengthening Eutelsat’s footprint throughout the continent with optimised regional beams for broadband access, cellular backhaul, VSAT solutions and social connectivity projects.

EUTELSAT 115 West B is part of a groundbreaking procurement agreement reached by the former Satmex (now Eutelsat Americas) in 2012 in cooperation with Asia Broadcast Satellite (ABS), involving the manufacture and delivery of four all-electric satellites featuring a revolutionary design that significantly reduces launch mass while keeping payload performance.

Patricio Northland, CEO of Eutelsat Americas, said: “This next-generation satellite illustrates Eutelsat’s commitment to innovation and the expansion of the boundaries of technology within our industry. We are positioning these new resources at the fast-growing 114.9◦W orbital position, thereby helping accelerate its transformation into a premium data neighbourhood for the Americas.”

EUTELSAT 115 West B is the first of two electric propulsion Eutelsat satellites to be launched in 2015 for the Americas. It is expected to begin services later in 2015 and will be followed into space by EUTELSAT 117 West B in the fourth quarter.

About Eutelsat Communications

Established in 1977, Eutelsat Communications (NYSE Euronext Paris: ETL, ISIN code: FR0010221234) is one of the world’s leading and most experienced operators of communications satellites. The company provides capacity on 35 satellites to clients that include broadcasters and broadcasting associations, pay-TV operators, video, data and Internet service providers, enterprises and government agencies. Eutelsat’s satellites provide ubiquitous coverage of Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia-Pacific and the Americas, enabling video, data, broadband and government communications to be established irrespective of a user’s location. Headquartered in Paris, with offices and teleports around the globe, Eutelsat represents a workforce of 1,000 men and women from 32 countries who are experts in their fields and work with clients to deliver the highest quality of service.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/multimedia/home/20141112006911/en/