Satellite operator SES has announced that its new SES-9 satellite is officially entering commercial service.
SES-9 has successfully completed its testing and reached its orbital position at around 108.2¼ East, where it has joined SES-7 and will replace NSS-11.
“SES-9 is key to expanding our capabilities for DTH video broadcasting and services in Northeast Asia, South Asia and Indonesia,” said Martin Halliwell, Chief Technology Officer at SES.
According to SES, SES-9 - built by Boeing Satellite Systems International - is the largest SES satellite to serve the Asia-Pacific region, with 57 high-power Ku-band transponders - equivalent to 81x36MHz transponders, out of which 53 are incremental.
The new spacecraft will provide significant expansion capacity to serve the fast-growing video and mobility sectors across Northeast Asia, South Asia, India, Indonesia and the Philippines. The satellite will also be capable of supporting a range of enterprise and government applications.
“Equipped with dedicated mobility beams, SES-9 is also well positioned to serve the fast-growing maritime and aeronautical sectors,” Halliwell added.
Meanwhile, SES-9 already has anchor customers ready to go. SES will co-market SES-9 capacity with PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia to the Indonesian market. Also, Sky Cable, the largest cable television provider in the Philippines, has signed a multi-year, multi-transponder agreement for broadcasting DTH satellite TV channels.
Meanwhile, as the Show Daily reported on Tuesday, this week SES also partnered with Gilat Satellite Networks to launch the SES Enterprise+ Hybrid Broadband in Asia, which will use capacity from SES-9.
The spacecraft was successfully launched by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida on 4 March this year.
“The improved performance of the Falcon 9 launcher shortened the orbit raising phase and, in combination with the use of the highly efficient SES-9 electric propulsion system, resulted in remaining fuel on board to support services well beyond its 15 years design life,” Halliwell said.