Satellite services provider, Intelsat (News - Alert) S.A announced the successful launch of the Intelsat 19 satellite by Sea Launch Zenit 3SL launch vehicle from a mobile launch platform in the Pacific Ocean.

Built by Space Systems/Loral, Intelsat 19 will provide C- and Ku-band capacity for media, government and network services customers in the western United States and the Asia-Pacific region, hosting video neighborhoods with global programmers such as Discovery, Turner and Disney (News - Alert). It also carries three specially designed Ku-band mobility beams that will provide maritime and aeronautical users with always-on broadband connectivity throughout the northern and southwestern Pacific Ocean.

“Intelsat 19 will host a prime video neighborhood, with C-band capacity providing enhanced performance for distribution of international video content throughout the Asia-Pacific region and increased Ku-band capacity optimized for DTH,” Dave McGlade (News - Alert), chief executive officer at Intelsat, said in a press release.

“Additionally, this satellite is a critical element of what will be the world’s first single operator global broadband mobility network when it is completed in early 2013,” McGlade added.

Once operational in July, Intelsat 19 will replace Intelsat 8 at 166° east and is expected to have a useful life of more than 18 years.

Intelsat also unveiled its plan to launch three more satellites this year, Intelsat 20, Intelsat 21 and Intelsat 23, all of which are scheduled for launch in the third quarter.

For over 45 years, Intelsat has been delivering information and entertainment for many of the world’s leading media and network companies, multinational corporations, Internet Service Providers and governmental agencies. With major milestones such as its 2001 privatization and 2006 acquisition of PanAmSat, Intelsat and its culture of leadership and technical excellence has established satellite communications as an essential element of the global telecommunications infrastructure.

Intelsat recently inked Commercial Falcon Heavy Launch Pact with Space Exploration Technologies, a space launch company. Falcon Heavy is the most powerful rocket in the world and historically is second only to the Apollo-era Saturn V moon rocket.