Paris – Following its successful launch on May 26, Eutelsat Communications announced on July 6 that the Eutelsat 3B satellite is now fully fired up and providing commercial services at 3° East.

Eutelsat’s newest satellite is designed to increase and diversify capacity and reach of Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia and Brazil. The first commercial satellite to assemble Ku, C and Ka payloads in a single platform, it can operate up to 51 transponders through an innovative configuration that enables customers to select the frequency band most adapted to their applications and targeted service area.

Overnight transfer of customer traffic onto the new satellite from the two Eutelsat satellites already at 3° East (Eutelsat 3D and Eutelsat 3A) was completed in the evening of July 5. Having completed their missions at 3° East both satellites will now be redeployed. Eutelsat 3D is already on its way to 7° East where it will be co-positioned with Eutelsat 7A to increase capacity and in-orbit security for customers providing DTH, professional video, data and telecoms services in Europe, Turkey, the Middle East, Africa and Indian Ocean islands. It is scheduled to go into service at 7° East in mid-July at which point it will be renamed Eutelsat 7B. Eutelsat 3A, will be relocated to 8° West until it is de-orbited later in 2014.

Eutelsat Chairman and CEO, Michel de Rosen said: “With the full entry into service of Eutelsat 3B we are further heightening the efficiency of our fleet and gearing new capacity towards our strongest growth markets. Clients providing services from our 3° East and 7° East orbital positions can now benefit from new satellites at the top end of the range in terms of flexibility, power and reach. Our thanks go to Airbus Defence and Space for building Eutelsat 3B and working closely with us during the satellite’s first manoeuvres, and to sea launch for a flawless launch.”