Turkey’s W3A Satellite Launched

The 4.2-ton satellite was launched from a Proton launching vehicle at 04:06 local time. The 3-phased Proton vehicle provided by International Launch Service completed its journey to space in less than 10 minutes. Breeze M fired 5 times in order to place the W3A satellite built by EADS Astrium into orbit. The Fucino Station in Italy handled the satellite’s signal reception.

Eutelsat’s new satellite will begin service in May at a postion of 7 degree east . The satellite will replace the W3 launched in 1999 and will significantly increase the service potential for the Eutelsat system that serves Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The new W3A will have a special fixed antenna for Turkey. All of Europe including Turkey, the Middle East, Saudi Arabia, and Ethiopia will be included in the Turkish antenna’s service area.

Eutelsat’s position serves a customer base that includes companies and service providers such as Europe Broadcasting Union (EBU), Reuters, Hughes Network Systems and Volkswagen, and Digiturk which serves 800,000 subscribers in Turkey.