Satellite Technology Feature Article
December 21, 2009
Orbital Signs Contract with Avanti
By Anil Sharma, TMCnet Contributor
Orbital Sciences Corporation, which develops and manufactures small- and medium-class rockets and space systems for commercial, military and civil government customers, reportedly has signed a contract with London-based Avanti Communications Group plc, the U.K.'s Fixed Satellite Services operator, for a new geosynchronous communications satellite.
According to Orbital officials, the spacecraft, to be named HYLAS 2, will be based on Orbital’s STAR (News - Alert) 2.4 satellite platform. The satellite is scheduled for delivery in early 2012.
“With this most recent communications satellite order, Orbital has again demonstrated our position as the world’s leading provider of small-class GEO commercial satellites,” said Michael Larkin, executive vice president and general manager of space systems group, Orbital, in a statement.
Larkin said that from the world’s largest satellite operators, including Intelsat and SES (News - Alert), to regional operators such as Telenor, Optus, and now Avanti, Orbital provides the highest levels of product reliability, the most comprehensive support, and the best overall value to all the customers.
“These same attributes are also designed into our higher-power Star 2.7 spacecraft that has evolved from our current product line and which will serve as our entry into the market for satellites that generate up to 7.5 kilowatts of payload power,” he added.
Company officials said that the HYLAS 2 satellite will carry 24 active Ka-band user beams and four gateway beams, and will produce approximately 5.0 kilowatts of payload electrical power.
According to the company officials, the Ka-band spot beams will provide two-way communications services to facilitate high-speed delivery of data to end-user applications such as corporate networking, broadband Internet access, business continuity services and video distribution.
Avanti, using the HYLAS 2 spacecraft, will provide its data and video services to Northern and Southern Africa, Eastern Europe and the Middle East.
“We are very pleased to be working with Orbital to provide Avanti with our second broadband satellite, which will clearly establish Avanti as the first provider and clear leader in broadband services via Ka-band satellites throughout Europe and large portions of Africa and the Middle East,” said David Williams, CEO of Avanti.
Williams said that together with the well established network of distribution partners and telecommunications service partners, the company is uniquely positioned to deliver the best value of broadband services via satellite.
Anil Sharma is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To read more of Anil’s articles, please visit his columnist page.
Edited by Erin Harrison
