Posted: Wed, Jan 18, 2006, 8:07 AM ET (1307 GMT)

Canadian satellite operator Telesat Canada announced Tuesday that it has selected EADS Astrium and International Launch Services (ILS) to build and launch, respectively, its Nimiq 4 satellite. EADS Astrium will build Nimiq 4, a Eurostar E3000 series spacecraft weighing 4,800 kilograms at launch. The spacecraft will carry 32 Ku-band and 8 Ka-band transponders to provide digital television services to Canadian consumers. The spacecraft will be launched to its GEO slot at 82 degrees west in 2008 on a Proton M provided by ILS under a separate contract. The launch will be the fifth provided by ILS for Telesat Canada.