Thales Alenia Space has signed a contract with the leading telecom services company in Indonesia, PT. Telekomunikasi Indonesia TbK (Telkom), to build a new telecommunications satellite. Telkom-3S will increase the operator’s C-band capacity from its orbital position at 118° East, and will also offer HDTV channels and remote GSM/Internet services in Ku-band.

Thales Alenia Space will be prime contractor on the project, with responsibility for the design, construction, testing and in-orbit delivery of the satellite. It is also to source the launch and early orbital positioning phase (LEOP) and in-orbit tests (IOT). In addition, Thales Alenia Space will supply control center components and will train a team of engineers on site.

Built on Thales Alenia Space’s new-generation Spacebus 4000B2 platform, Telkom-3S will be fitted with 24 C-band transponders, 8 extended C-band transponders, and 10 Ku-band transponders. The C-band payload will cover Indonesia and Southeast Asia, while the extended C-band payload will cover both Indonesia and part of Malaysia. The Ku-band payload will specifically cover Indonesia.

Launch will be towards the end of 2016, and will have an expected life of 15 years.

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Categories: Blogs, DTH/Satellite, Inside Satellite