SSL selected to provide powerful all-electric satellite to Eutelsat

PALO ALTO, Calif., 23 March 2016. Eutelsat, a satellite operator in Paris, sought a high-power, all-electric satellite with which to provide broadcast services to multiple regions, including Africa, the Middle East, and Turkey. They found their solution at Space Systems Loral (SSL), a provider of commercial satellites in Palo Alto, California, and a subsidiary of MDA.

"EUTELSAT 7C will help us meet ongoing demand for broadcast content delivery in a fast-growing communications environment," says Rodolphe Belmer, chief executive officer of Eutelsat.

EUTELSAT 7C is an all Ku-band satellite equipped with 44 operational transponders to provide service from 7 degrees East longitude. It is also designed with a steerable beam for flexible coverage.

EUTELSAT 7C is based on the SSL 1300 platform, which has the flexibility to support a broad range of applications and technology advances. It will exclusively use electric propulsion for orbit raising as well as station keeping and will provide service for a minimum of 15 years.

"Following the successful launch of EUTELSAT 65 West A earlier this month, we look forward to continued collaboration with the Eutelsat team," says John Celli, president of SSL. "The EUTELSAT 7C spacecraft has advanced capabilities that demonstrate the flexibility and power of the SSL satellite platform."

All-electric satellites provide efficient solutions for satellite operators by reducing launch mass while retaining payload performance. SSL's all- electric satellites are derived from SSL's electric propulsion heritage that includes 19 satellites launched with electric propulsion since 2004 representing 53,000 hours of on-orbit thruster operation.

Established in 1977, Eutelsat Communications is an experienced operators of communications satellites. The company provides capacity on 40 satellites to clients that include broadcasters and broadcasting associations, pay-TV operators, video, data and Internet service providers, enterprises, and government agencies. Eutelsat's satellites provide ubiquitous coverage of Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia-Pacific and the Americas, enabling video, data, broadband and government communications to be established irrespective of a user's location. Headquartered in Paris, with offices and teleports around the globe, Eutelsat represents a workforce of 1,000 men and women from 37 countries who are experts in their fields and work with clients to deliver the highest quality of service.

SSL, a subsidiary of MDA, is a provider of commercial satellites with broad expertise to support satellite operators and innovative space related missions. The company designs and manufactures spacecraft for services such as direct-to-home television, video content distribution, broadband Internet, mobile communications, and Earth observation. As a Silicon Valley innovator for more than 50 years, SSL's advanced product line also includes state-of-the-art small satellites, and sophisticated robotics and automation solutions for remote operations.

MDA is a global communications and information company providing operational solutions to commercial and government organizations worldwide.

MDA's business is focused on markets and customers with strong repeat business potential, primarily in the Communications sector and the Surveillance and Intelligence sector. In addition, the Company conducts a significant amount of advanced technology development.

MDA's established global customer base is served by more than 4,800 employees operating from 11 locations in the United States, Canada, and internationally.

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