Following the activation of an existing launch option, Inmarsat and Hellas-Sat have entrusted the launch of their telecommunications satellite Inmarsat S-band / Hellas-Sat 3 to Arianespace.

The satellite will be launched by Ariane 5 launch vehicles at the Guiana Space Center, Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, Q2 of 2017.
Inmarsat S-band / Hellas-Sat 3 will provide Mobile Satellite Services (MSS), Fixed Satellite Services (FSS) and Broadcast Satellite Services (BSS).

Built on the Spacebus 4000 C4 platform from Thales Alenia Space, it will deliver a multi-beam mission in S-band for Inmarsat as well as a powerful Ku/Ka-Band mission of 44 Ku and 1 Ka transponders for Hellas-Sat.

The satellite will weigh about 5.9 tons at launch and will offer payload power of about 12.3 kW. Inmarsat S-band / Hellas-Sat 3 will be positioned at 39° East.

The Hellas-Sat 3 payload will deliver in-orbit backed up DTH and Telecom services in its designated coverage areas, maintaining and expanding Hellas-Sat (an Arabsat company) business reach with additional capacities and bringing video content in High Definition and Ultra High Definition format to the covered regions. The FSS/BSS coverage zones are Europe, Middle East and SADC (Southern African Development Community) countries, including a cross trap service between Europe and SADC.

The Inmarsat S-band European Aviation Network (EAN) payload is the satellite component of a new integrated satellite and air-to-ground network, developed by Inmarsat in partnership with Deutsche Telekom, that will deliver very high capacity broadband WiFi services to aviation passengers flying throughout Europe. The MSS payload is designed to deliver an S-band service across all 28 member states of the European Union, plus Norway and Switzerland.

“We are delighted with flexibility that Arianespace has shown in being able to provide a launch slot that enables us to place our European Aviation Network S-band satellite in orbit by mid-2017,” said Michele Franci, CTO, Inmarsat. “This launch schedule supports the introduction of our ground-breaking integrated satellite and air-to-ground net-work, developed by Inmarsat and Deutsche Telekom, which will deliver a very high capacity broadband Wi-Fi experience for passengers flying throughout Europe.”

“Hellas Sat 3 is further establishing our company’s position in the DTH market in Europe and fully supports its plans for growing in Africa. We are glad that together with our strong partners, we are able to secure the launch timeframe and guarantee service continuity and growth opportunities for our existing and new customers.” said Christodoulos Protopappas, CEO of Hellas Sat.

Commenting on this latest contract, Arianespace Chairman and CEO Stéphane Israël said: “With this new launch contract, we are very proud to continue our partnership with Inmarsat that goes back to 1981. It is an honor as well to have been selected by Hellas-Sat for the second time in less than two years. The trust of our customers is a true recognition of the outstanding reliability and availability of our heavyweight launch system Ariane 5, which celebrated last month its 75th success in a row since 2003.”

About Arianespace

To use space for a better life on earth, Arianespace guarantees access to space transportation services and solutions for any type of satellite, commercial as well as institutional, into any orbit.

Since 1980, Arianespace has performed missions placing more than 540 satellites into orbit with its three launchers: Ariane, Soyuz and Vega. Arianespace is headquartered in Evry, France near Paris, and has a facility at the Guiana Space Center in French Guiana, plus local offices in Washington, D.C., Tokyo and Singapore.

About Inmarsat

Inmarsat plc is the leading provider of global mobile satellite communications services. Since 1979, Inmarsat has been providing reliable voice and high-speed data communications to governments, enterprises and other organizations, with a range of services that can be used on land, at sea or in the air. Inmarsat employs around 1,600 staff in more than 60 locations around the world, with a presence in the major ports and centres of commerce on every continent. Inmarsat is listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE:ISAT.L). For more information, please visit www.inmarsat.com.

About Hellas Sat

Hellas Sat is a leading satellite operator, offering services in Europe, Middle East and Africa. It was established in August 2001 and owns and operates the Hellas Sat 2 high power satellite. The company has been focusing on the development of the orbital position of 39° East into an attractive alternative proposition for video broadcasting, as well as VSAT applications and through the successful operation of three DTH platforms is broadcasting more than 300 HD and SD TV channels to more than 2,9 million households. Since April 2013 Hellas Sat is part of the Arabsat Group.