spacetoday.net: Alcatel gets satellite order

Posted: Thu, Jan 27, 2005, 7:33 AM ET (1233 GMT)
Alcatel Space announced Wednesday that it has signed a contract with a Brazilian satellite operator for a new communications satellite. The deal with Star One, the satellite division of telecommunications company Embratel, covers the construction of the Star One C2 satellite. The satellite, a Spacebus 3000B3 model weighing 4,100 kg, will carry 45 transponders: 28 C-band, 16 Ku-band, and 1 X-band. The satellite, to be located at 65 degrees west, will provide coverage for South America, Mexico, and Florida for television and telephony transmissions. Alcatel said the contract was valued at $150 million. While the Alcatel release disclosed no launch details, an Embratel release said that the satellite will be launched by Arianespace in early 2007. Embratel said that the total cost of the system, including satellite, launch, and insurance, was $195 million.