Intelsat 29e high-throughput satellite arrives in French Guiana in advance of launch

LUXEMBOURG, 15 Dec. 2015. Intelsat 29e, the first in the EpicNG series of high-throughput satellites from global satellite services provider Intelsat S.A. (NYSE:I) in Washington, has arrived at the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana. It will now undergo final preparations before its scheduled launch on an Ariane 5 rocket on 27 Jan. 2016.

Intelsat 29e getting ready to board for its trip to the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana. (Photo: Business Wire)

Intelsat 29e, manufactured by Boeing and equipped with the most advanced digital payload on a commercial spacecraft, is designed to bring high-throughput capacity in both C- and Ku-band to North and Latin America and the North Atlantic region, and be interoperable with the deployed Intelsat satellite fleet and terrestrial infrastructure.

Intelsat EpicNG features a flexible high-throughput payload design that is backward compatible with deployed user networks globally. It has an open architecture built to address an expected $3 billion incremental increase in revenue opportunities related to an increase in demand by the year 2020 for satellite-based infrastructure in the enterprise, wireless infrastructure, aeronautical and maritime mobility, government, and Internet of Things sectors.

Intelsat 29e will deliver enterprise-grade, broadband services to aero and maritime mobility service providers and users. The satellite combines wide and high performing spot beam designs facilitating combined broadcast and broadband applications within the same network. EMC, Panasonic, and Harris CapRock have committed to the Intelsat EpicNG fleet for mobility and fixed and mobile enterprise applications.

The amount of data traffic in Latin America is expected to increase at a compound annual growth rate of 66 percent from 2014 through year-end of 2018. With surging broadband requirements and an increasing number of smartphone users, the Intelsat 29e flexible and scalable architecture will enable fixed and mobile network operators to cost-effectively extend their networks and meet the surges in broadband demand across the continent.

Select customers in the region have already committed to take advantage of Intelsat EpicNG, including: Compania Anonima Nacional Telefonos de Venezuela, BT Latam Venezuela, Anditel, S.A.S., Axesat, Amazonia Cabo Ltda., Cadena Ecuatoriana de Television C.A., Canal 10 CETV, Corporacion Nacional de Telecommunicaciones CNTE.P., Fox Latin America Channels do Brasil, Igrege Mundial do Poder de Deus, Radio e Televisao Banderantes, and Telefonica del Peru.

Intelsat 29e is scheduled for launch on 27 January 2016 during a window that is scheduled to open at 5:29 pm EST and close at approximately 7:36 pm EST. Following a successful launch, Intelsat 29e will be placed at the 310°E orbital location, where it will undergo in-orbit testing prior to its expected in-service date of mid-2016.

Intelsat S.A. (NYSE:I) is a provider of satellite services, delivering high-performance connectivity solutions for media, fixed, and mobile broadband infrastructure, enterprise and government and military applications.