LUXEMBOURG--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 27, 2016--
Intelsat S.A. (NYSE: I), the world’s leading provider of satellite
services, today announced that Intelsat 29e, the first of the Intelsat
EpicNG high throughput satellites, was launched successfully
from French Guiana aboard an Ariane 5 vehicle. Liftoff occurred at 6:20
pm EST. The Intelsat 29e satellite separated from the rocket’s upper
stage 30 minutes after launch, at 6:50 pm EST, and signal acquisition
has been confirmed.
Manufactured by Boeing and equipped with the most advanced digital
payload on a commercial spacecraft, Intelsat 29e will bring high
throughput capacity in both C- and Ku-band to North and Latin America
and the North Atlantic region. Intelsat 29e will be placed into service
at 310° East, where it replaces Intelsat 1R.
Intelsat 29e is the first satellite of Intelsat’s next generation, all
digital EpicNG satellite platform, which combines wide beams
and spot beams with frequency reuse technology and the sector’s most
advanced digital payload. The digital payload will provide customers
with unprecedented security and flexibility, enabling customers to
seamlessly access and shift capacity to match their usage needs in a
particular region or timeframe. Intelsat EpicNG is optimized
to provide satellite connectivity for applications including the
Internet of Things, enterprise, wireless infrastructure, aeronautical
and maritime mobility, and government, which are expected to provide a
combined $3 billion incremental opportunity by the year 2020.
“Today’s launch represents a truly ‘epic’ moment in communication’s
history, as we begin a new era of high throughput satellite services for
our customers,” stated Stephen Spengler, Chief Executive Officer,
Intelsat. “This is a testament to the innovation and creativity of the
Intelsat team who envisioned the Intelsat EpicNG platform
nearly four years ago. Through design expertise and a deep understanding
of our customers’ requirements, the Intelsat EpicNG platform
will deliver high performance, improved economics and simplified access
that will expand the addressable market for our solutions.”
The Intelsat EpicNG platform design reflects the company’s
innovative approach to introducing high throughput technology into the
world’s largest community of enterprise-grade satellite networks which
operate on the Intelsat fleet. Intelsat EpicNG is backwards
compatible and fully interoperable with Intelsat’s existing satellite
fleet and terrestrial infrastructure, allowing customers to use
currently deployed network hardware to access the high performance
connectivity. The platform’s open architecture allows customers to have
control over service offerings and hardware selection, providing
differentiation of service offerings.
The payload will deliver carrier-grade services to fixed and mobile
network operators, and broadband for applications such as enterprise,
aeronautical and maritime mobility, and government throughout the
Americas. The satellite also features spot beams for mobility customers
serving the heavily trafficked North Atlantic region. Companies such as
Harris CapRock, Panasonic, EMC (formerly MTN), Axesat and leading
national telecom operators in Latin America will be among the first to
deploy services on the platform.
Intelsat 29e is the 56thIntelsat satellite launched by
Arianespace. Intelsat expects to launch the second Intelsat EpicNG
satellite, Intelsat 33e, which will serve Europe, Africa, the Middle
East, and Asia, in the third quarter of 2016, also aboard an Arianespace
launcher.
Supporting Resources:
About Intelsat
Intelsat S.A. (NYSE: I) is the world’s leading provider of satellite
services, delivering high performance connectivity solutions for media,
fixed and mobile broadband infrastructure, enterprise and government and
military applications. Intelsat’s satellite, teleport and fiber
infrastructure is unmatched in the industry, setting the standard for
transmissions of video and broadband services. From the globalization of
content and the proliferation of HD, to the expansion of cellular
networks and mobile broadband access, with Intelsat, envision your
future network, connect using our leading satellite technology and
transform your opportunities.
Envision…Connect…Transform…with Intelsat. For more information,
visit www.intelsat.com.
Intelsat Safe Harbor Statement
Statements in this news release constitute "forward-looking statements"
that do not directly or exclusively relate to historical facts. When
used in this release, the words “may,” “will,” “might,” “should,”
“expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “project,” “believe,” “estimate,”
“predict,” “intend,” “potential,” “outlook,” and “continue,” and the
negative of these terms, and other similar expressions are intended to
identify forward-looking statements and information.
The forward-looking statements reflect Intelsat's intentions, plans,
expectations, assumptions and beliefs about future events and are
subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are
outside of Intelsat's control. Important factors that could cause actual
results to differ materially from the expectations expressed or implied
in the forward-looking statements include known and unknown risks. Known
risks include, among others, the risks described in Intelsat’s annual
report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2014, and its other
filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Because actual results could differ materially from Intelsat's
intentions, plans, expectations, assumptions and beliefs about the
future, you are urged to view all forward-looking statements with
caution. Intelsat does not undertake any obligation to update or revise
any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise.
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160127006488/en/
Source: Intelsat
Intelsat
Michele Loguidice
Director, Investor Relations and
Corporate Communications
+1 703-559-7372
michele.loguidice@intelsat.com
