MUMBAI: Azercosmos and Intelsat have chosen Arianespace to launch the Azerspace-2/Intelsat 38 telecommunication satellite. The satellite will be launched by an Ariane 5 launch vehicle from the Guiana Space Center, located in Kourou, French Guiana.

Expected to launch in 2017, Azerspace-2 will be Azercosmos’ second telecommunications satellite, and will expand on the current capacity of Azerspace-1. It will support growing demand for Direct-to-Home (DTH), government, and network services in Europe, Central and South Asia, the Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa.

“Arianespace is honored to continue its longstanding partnership with Intelsat and be selected again by Azercosmos for the launch of its second satellite, following the success of Azerspace/Africasat-1A on 7 February, 2013. This contract will give us the opportunity to implement a tailor made launch solution that complies with both Azercosmos and Intelsat requirements, hence demonstrating our capability to address the needs of both regional and global satellite operators worldwide,” said Arianespace chairman and CEO Stéphane Israël.

For Intelsat, the satellite will provide continuity of service for the Intelsat 12 satellite currently stationed at 45 degrees East, an orbital location which hosts DTH platforms for Central and Eastern Europe as well as the Asia-Pacific region. Intelsat 38 will also provide connectivity for corporate networks and government applications in Africa.

“This new satellite will provide Azercosmos with additional capacity for the increasing demand in the region, and will allow us to continue to bring the best service to our customers. We are pleased to collaborate with two world leaders in the satellite industry,” said Azercosmos chairman and CEO Rashad Nabiyev.

 
Intelsat EVP and chief technology officer Thierry Guillemin added, “In today’s competitive environment, fast and reliable access to space is an absolute imperative. Arianespace has a long and proven track record of executing against its launch manifest and we look forward to partnering with them once again to ensure the reliable delivery of the Azercosmos 2/Intelsat 38 satellite into orbit in 2017.”

Azerspace-2/Intelsat 38 will be designed and built by Space Systems/Loral. The satellite design is based on the highly reliable 1300 satellite platform that provides the flexibility for a broad range of applications and technology advances.