SES Global announces deals with BSkyB, KPN, Discovery

**gameboy** · 09-09-2005

Satellite operator SES Global SA announced three new contracts, with British Sky Broadcasting Group PLC in the UK, Koninklijke KPN NV in the Netherlands and Discovery networks in the US.

The company's SES Astra unit renewed a long-term agreement with BSkyB for use of the Astra satellite at 28.2 degrees east.

No financial details were given.

SES Astra also said it signed an agreement with KPN and 3G Media Consult to join in Dutch trials of interactive television on mobile phones.

SES Americom said it has won a multi-year order worth 'several million dollars' from Discovery Networks for distribution and technical supervision of all the American programmes of Discovery and BBC America.

Source: Forbes

P.S. The Sky deal is for four transponders on Astra 28.2 East

**skyoutUK** · 09-09-2005

It’s curious that in recent announcements about ITV an bskyb leasing more bandwidth SES didn’t specify whether transponders are on 2A 2B or dreaded 2D. Could it be they are hedging their bets and selling capacity on yet to be moved 2C (provided 1M survives the launch).

***BarMoo*** · 11-09-2005

The funny thing about 2C is that it has 16 D-band transponders which I guess will only be used as back-up for 2D. However, the rather large difference in beam-widths between the two satellites deserves a temporary moist moment.

Like, oh dear! 2D's has gone tits-up, let's use 2C as back-up. Great! FTA TV all over europe. Umm, I wonder if the BBC, ITV and Hollywood have been reminded of this anomaly?

Whatever, my bad computational skills have worked out that 2C will only introduce 16 new frequencies to 28.2°E (er, that'll be the C-band then). Mind you, that is still 144 HD channels in MHEG-4

A curious set of affairs indeed.

Have Fun,

Mark.

**solly** · 11-09-2005

we wait to lunch 1ka soon

that wonderfull to see back itv and bbc

for moment testing bbc hd from ibc holland

***BarMoo*** · 11-09-2005

Conventions like IBC are good venues for clearing stuff up. Totally forgot about it this year ??

However, if I were there I would certainly go to the BBC stand and check the connections round the back of that 'HD' monitor

Secondly, I would either go to the ITV stand (???) and ask about 2C's pan-european footprint is OR I would go to the SES Global stand and brazenly ask them how 2C, in the event of the failure of 2D, would retain the rights' control of 2D given that blah, blah, blah.

After work fun stuff, LOL.

Have Fun,

Mark.

P.S. If anyone is interested in big-boys toys or likes that warm feeling you get when you are in a very large sweet shop without any money - you might find this link useful.

h**p://www.ibc.org/

**skyoutUK** · 11-09-2005

I wonder if new capacity bought by ITV is to be used for their freesat platform with BBC and how does BBC plan to use their new 2A transponder somehow I doubt they will transmit HD in the clear all over Europe. Hardware manufacturers are having a fit stuffing content protection on every piece of HD ready equipment. It might not be long before BBC goes cap in hand to uncle Rupert to get encrypted again.

P.S. Anything interesting (of HD variety) on IFA last week? I didn't manage to see much on German channels and their (IFA's) website is crap a lot of flash and not much else.

**skyoutUK** · 11-09-2005

Originally Posted by solly

we wait to lunch 1ka soon

that wonderfull to see back itv and bbc

for moment testing bbc hd from ibc holland

Don't forget 1KA also brings something far worse then Astra 2D and that is ultra tight spot beams. Canal Digital in Spain is first platform to use them, if in future sky goes that way you can kiss your digibox good bye.

**Analoguesat** · 11-09-2005

Get her name right lads - its 1KR (replacement)

As the footprints for the new bird havent been officially released yet, theres no point speculating about tight footprints, spot beams or whatever.

**Analoguesat** · 11-09-2005

Actually - update to the previous item. According to the official press relaease from SES in June 2003 when 1KR was ordered it will have a pan European beam

"SES ASTRA PROCURES TWO SATELLITES WITH LOCKHEED MARTIN

SES ASTRA, an SES GLOBAL company (Luxembourg and Frankfurt Stock Exchanges: SESG), and Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems (LMCSS), a business unit of Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE: LMT), are pleased to announce that SES ASTRA has awarded a contract to Lockheed Martin to design and manufacture two high-powered communications satellites to be deployed at ASTRA’s prime continental European orbital position of 19.2° East. Terms of the contract remain confidential.

The spacecraft are due to be launched in the second half of 2005 and in 2006 respectively and will have minimum service lives of 15 years. The satellites will be built on Lockheed’s reliable A2100 platform, and designed to be compatible with all flight-proven commercial launch vehicles. SES ASTRA intends to select the respective launch service providers later on in the year.

The first satellite, ASTRA 1KR, will feature 32 active Ku band transponders in the FSS band, with a TWTA output power of 140 watts and a pan-European footprint. With an expected launch weight of approximately 4200 kilograms the spacecraft’s primary mission, following the lost ASTRA 1K mission of November 2002, will be to replace ASTRA 1B and 1C launched in 1991 and 1993 respectively.

The second satellite will be built in parallel and serves two missions: In case of an ASTRA 1KR launch failure it will replace that spacecraft. If the ASTRA 1KR launch is a success, the second satellite will be reconfigured to include a Ka-Band payload and become ASTRA 1L. It will be designed to replace ASTRA 1E and to reinforce SES ASTRA’s renowned and still unique inter satellite back-up concept at a single orbital position, by providing satellite protection in the Ku (FSS & BSS) and Ka bands. In addition, ASTRA 1L will ensure further fleet optimization by allowing the release of ASTRA 2C from its current location of 19.2° East. The spacecraft will feature 29 active Ku band transponders as well as a 2 transponder Ka band payload for such interactive applications as ASTRA BBI (Broadband Interactive) and Satmode services (ASTRA’s proposed low-cost satellite return channel for digital set-top boxes). ASTRA 1L will weigh approximately 4300 kilograms upon launch, and also offers a pan-European footprint with a TWTA output of 140 watts.

Ferdinand Kayser, President and CEO of SES ASTRA, is confident: “With these state-of-the-art procurements, SES ASTRA cements not only the competitive position of Europe’s top Continental European orbital slot well into the next decade, but also reinforces the world’s most comprehensive inter-satellite protection scheme at a single orbital position. We look forward to working with Lockheed Martin on the two ASTRA missions and are confident that the scheduled renewal of our fleet will further strengthen our existing high standards of operational excellence and support our commitment of offering state-of-the-art satellite services to our customers.”

“We are extremely gratified by the confidence SES ASTRA has placed in us,” said Ted Gavrilis, President, Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems. "Our flight-proven A2100 has provided a powerful, dependable solution for telecommunications customers worldwide and we look forward to establishing a long-term relationship with SES ASTRA."

**skyoutUK** · 11-09-2005

There were many reports (from multiple sources) that original 1K carried couple of experimental tight spot beam transponders, and I distinctly remember reading earlier this year Canal Digital Spain announced they plan to use them when they come on line so that would suggest more then pure speculation.

Sorry for getting the alphabet soup wrong there are so many of them now I lost track you are absolutely right 1Kr ( I meant that one all along honest

)

**Analoguesat** · 11-09-2005

1K did indeed have non overlapping spot beams - with frequency re-use between spots. The attatched pic shows the spots.

This idea appears to have been dropped for the time being at 19E. 1M will have pan Eoropean beams as well:

SES ASTRA AWARDS ASTRA 1M CONTRACT TO EADS ASTRIUM

Eurostar E3000 satellite scheduled for launch into 19.2° East in 2008
SES ASTRA, an SES GLOBAL company (Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG) is pleased to announce that it has awarded the contract for the construction of its ASTRA 1M satellite to European manufacturer EADS Astrium.

EADS Astrium, as prime contractor for ASTRA 1M, will design and build the satellite and supply both the payload and the platform. European industry will supply the majority of the spacecraft equipment and technology. The satellite will provide a full range of television broadcasting services, including HDTV and other advanced audiovisual as well as broadband services.

The ASTRA 1M spacecraft will provide eventual replacement capacity at 19.2° East and will support and protect SES ASTRA's growth at the 28.2° East orbital position serving the UK and Irish markets. This growth is secured through ASTRA 1M protecting the timely relocation of ASTRA 2C to 28.2° East from its current position at 19.2° East, such relocation being nominally planned after the successful launches of ASTRA 1KR and ASTRA 1L. This strategy provides additional capacity to meet the strong demand in the UK and Irish markets, driven by the expected growth of HDTV services. This optimised fleet configuration will also release an additional 8 transponders for the African market.

EADS Astrium will manufacture the ASTRA 1M spacecraft based on its flight-proven and state-of-the-art Eurostar E3000 platform, the latest version of the Eurostar series, which first became part of the SES fleet with the ASTRA 2B spacecraft launched in September 2000.

ASTRA 1M will carry 36 transponders for the first five years (32 thereafter) covering the FSS and BSS frequency bands. The spacecraft will feature pan-European coverage. 150 Watt TWTA's (Travelling Wave Tube Amplifiers) will provide optimal output for reception on small sized dishes throughout the coverage area. The satellite will be specified for a minimum service life of 15 years. It will have a launch mass of 5300 kilograms, a solar array span of 35 metres once deployed in orbit, and spacecraft power of 10 kW at end of life. The ASTRA 1M spacecraft will be compatible with all flight proven launch vehicles. SES ASTRA will choose a launch service provider in the near future.

"We are most pleased to work with EADS Astrium on the ASTRA 1M mission, and building on our fruitful cooperation on ASTRA 2B", said Ferdinand Kayser, President and CEO of SES ASTRA. "Our decision is proof of the competitiveness of the European Space industry in general, and EADS Astrium in particular."

Antoine Bouvier, CEO of EADS Astrium, said: "We are delighted that SES ASTRA orders again an EADS Astrium satellite. Their decision to select us with an E3000 satellite confirms their confidence in the superior reliability of Eurostar and our industrial capability. We are convinced that this contract heralds a new phase of cooperation with SES ASTRA, who is a world leading operator and is recognized globally for its technical expertise."

**ax197** · 12-09-2005

With 2D running at full capacity, I believe that nice surprises are on the way for all s*y non-UK viewers.

Fingers crossed

**max.max** · 12-09-2005

Originally Posted by Analoguesat

1K did indeed have non overlapping spot beams - with frequency re-use between spots. The attatched pic shows the spots.

This idea appears to have been dropped for the time being at 19E. 1M will have pan Eoropean beams as well:

................."

If anyone 's interested, I will search in my old contract documentation and will post the exact number and coverage of the beams on the unlucky 1K bird. It was supposed to be the biggest commercial bird with a huge antenna farm never built before and it has been a state-of-the-art design for the large number of reflectors on board complicated by the related mechanical and thermal issues (needed heavy base plates to attach the reflectors and the antennas release and pointing mechanism) all of that within the usual very stringent weight constraints. Not an easy job for the Alenia and Alcatel designers, always with SES people breathing on their necks. As far as I can remember (but I will be more specific as soon as I have the time to find the paperwork), the original tight spot beams coverage was subject to a change due to SES request during actual manufacturing, so two antennas had to be scrapped, redesigned and rebuilt according to the new requirements which included a very tight spot beam on UK.
As I said, if anyone's interested I'll look in the old doc.s, otherwise I won't bother since it will take me some time. I may also try and get some info from Lockheed Martin, but they maybe subject to US ITAR regulations, so very difficult to obtain.

**Analoguesat** · 12-09-2005

Originally Posted by ax197

With 2D running at full capacity, I believe that nice surprises are on the way for all s*y non-UK viewers.

Fingers crossed

A quick shuffle round will soon blow those hopes out of the water

Theoretically, they can free up at least 3 full tp's on 2D by shifting Sky encrypted stuff onto unoccupied tp's on the other birds.

**Analoguesat** · 12-09-2005

Originally Posted by max.max

If anyone 's interested, I will search in my old contract documentation and will post the exact number and coverage of the beams on the unlucky 1K bird. It was supposed to be the biggest commercial bird with a huge antenna farm never built before and it has been a state-of-the-art design for the large number of reflectors on board complicated by the related mechanical and thermal issues (needed heavy base plates to attach the reflectors and the antennas release and pointing mechanism) all of that within the usual very stringent weight constraints. Not an easy job for the Alenia and Alcatel designers, always with SES people breathing on their necks. As far as I can remember (but I will be more specific as soon as I have the time to find the paperwork), the original tight spot beams coverage was subject to a change due to SES request during actual manufacturing, so two antennas had to be scrapped, redesigned and rebuilt according to the new requirements which included a very tight spot beam on UK.
As I said, if anyone's interested I'll look in the old doc.s, otherwise I won't bother since it will take me some time. I may also try and get some info from Lockheed Martin, but they maybe subject to US ITAR regulations, so very difficult to obtain.

Great stuff max.max

Why would Astra want a tight spot on the uk from 19E when theres sod all dishes pointing there these days apart from a few thousand satellite nuts and some heritage dishes left over from sky analogue???

**max.max** · 14-09-2005

Originally Posted by Analoguesat

Great stuff max.max

Why would Astra want a tight spot on the uk from 19E when theres sod all dishes pointing there these days apart from a few thousand satellite nuts and some heritage dishes left over from sky analogue???

this was the last and final ASTRA1K spots configuration (after 2 changes). I cannot post proprietary documentation on the forum, but i've tried to write a little summary from the satellite technical spec (i'm not an engineer, i deal with contracts and legal issues so probably i've done a lousy job, but there you go ... by the way I'm trying to get some similar info from Lockheed Martin for 1K-R but my friends over there have changed jobs so it's a bit difficult at the moment) :

PE = PAN EUROPEAN
CE = CONTINENTAL EUROPE
IB = IBERIA

KU BAND PE TX 1 ANTENNA – EAST PANEL 220cm 230cm OFFSET (circular aperture)

KU BAND CE RX/TX ANTENNA – EAST PANEL 350x260cm OFFSET (numerically defined aperture)

KU BAND IB RX/TX 1 ANTENNA – WEST SIDE PANEL 350x260cm OFFSET (numerically defined aperture)

KU BAND PE TX 2 ANTENNA – WEST PANEL 220cm 230cm OFFSET (circular aperture)

KU BAND PE RX ANTENNA – EARTH PANEL 160cm 121cm OFFSET

ALL STEERABLE ANTENNAS EACH WITH ITS OWN APM (antenna pointing mechanism),
ALL H-V POL.,
IB AND CE RX/TX ANTENNAS HAVE FREQUENCY-REUSE CAPABILITY (switchable frequencies plan from PE to CE)

# 4 FIXED KA BAND (1 RX – 3 TX) ANTENNAS FOR WIDE BAND MISSION– EARTH PANEL (ALL AROUND THE PE RX ANTENNA) which are not of any interest for direct TV broadcast, so i'll just skip this spec.
anyway, here's a description of the various more or less tight spots coverage

- PE 1 SPOT SERVICE AREA : CENTRAL SPAIN

- PE 2 SPOT SERVICE AREA : SOUTH FRANCE – GENEVA (CH) – NW ITALY (PIEMONTE-LIGURIA-PARTIAL LOMBARDIA-NORTH COASTAL TUSCANY)

- PE 3 SPOT SERVICE AREA : SOUTH-CENTRAL ENGLAND – NORTH FRANCE (NORMANDY)

- PE 4 WIDE SPOT SERVICE AREA : WHOLE CONTINENTAL WESTERN NORTHERN EUROPE (NO UPPER NORTH SCOTLAND-NO LOWER SOUTH ITALY- NO GREECE - NO EAST EUROPE)

- PE 5 WIDE SPOT SERVICE AREA : WHOLE CONTINENTAL WESTERN NORTHERN EUROPE (INCLUDING UPPER NORTH SCOTLAND AND LOWER SOUTH ITALY AND SPANISH TERRITORY IN MOROCCO – NO GREECE - NO EAST EUROPE)

- PE 6 SPOT SERVICE AREA : CANARY ISLANDS (SPAIN, OFF MOROCCO COAST)

- PE 7 SPOT SERVICE AREA : LAMPEDUSA ISLAND (ITALY, OFF LIBIA COAST)

- PE 8 SPOT SERVICE AREA : GREECE (NO CRETE – NO CYPRUS)

- PE-B SPOT SERVICE AREA : ROMANIA - BULGARIA

- PE 9 SPOT SERVICE AREA : MADEIRA (PORTUGAL, OFF MOROCCO COAST)

- PE-A SPOT SERVICE AREA : CRETE – CYPRUS – CYCLADS – WEST TURKEY

PE MINIMUM COPOLARIZATION GAIN (WORST CASE INSIDE AREAS) :

PE 1-2-3 34.0 dBi 100%

PE 4 31.1 dBi 100%

PE 5 32.4 dBi 100%

PE 6-7-8-B 28.0 dBi 100%

PE 9 26.0 dBi 100%

PE A 24.6 dBi 100%

PE MAXIMUM COPOLARIZATION GAIN : 36.5 dBi

- IB 1 SPOT SERVICE AREA : SPAIN (INCLUDING BALEARIC ISLANDS) - PORTUGAL

- IB 2 SPOT SERVICE AREA : CANARY ISLANDS

- IB 3 SPOT SERVICE AREA : MADEIRA

IB MINIMUM COPOLARIZATION GAIN (WORST CASE INSIDE AREAS) :

IB 1 35.6 dBi 100%

IB 2 30.4 dBi 100%

IB 3 28.5 dBi 100%

IB 1 MAXIMUM COPOLARIZATION GAIN : 39.5 dBi

- CE 4-5-POLAND SPOT SERVICE AREA : ALL CENTRAL EAST EUROPE REPUBLICS

- CE 6 SPOT SERVICE AREA : FAR EAST EUROPE (RUSSIA, UCRAINA, BIOLORUSSIA AROUND AND OVER BLACK SEA UP TO BALTIC)

- CE 7 SPOT SERVICE AREA : CENTRAL ASIA (RUSSIA OVER CASPIAN SEA NORTH AND WEST)

- CE 8 SPOT SERVICE AREA : CENTRAL ASIA (RUSSIA OVER CASPIAN SEA EAST)

- CE-A SPOT SERVICE AREA : CAUCASIC REPUBLICS

- CE MURMANSK SERVICE AREA : MURMANSK (EXTREME NORTH RUSSIA)

CE MINIMUM COPOLARIZATION GAIN (WORST CASE INSIDE AREAS) :

CE 4-5-POLAND 33.9 dBi 100%

CE 6 32.5 dBi 100%

CE 7 30.2 dBi 100%

CE 8–A-MURMANSK 27.9 dBi 100%

CE MAXIMUM COPOLARIZATION GAIN : 37.5 dBi

**Analoguesat** · 14-09-2005

Just as well the Proton misfired and she got dropped into the sea really isnt it

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