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Earthly Orbit Expands Services and Relationship with RSCC
25 October 2011
Geneva, Switzerland, 25 October 2011 – During the ITU Telecom World 2011, Russia’s national operator Russian Satellite Communications Company (RSCC) signed a long-term contract with Earthly Orbit, a UK satellite solution provider, for capacity utilization of the Russian Express AM44 satellite. Earthly Orbit will be providing communications services in the Middle East using the Ku-Band capacity of Express AM44 position in 11°W.
Earthly Orbit and RSCC have enjoyed many years of cooperation. The UK company has been leasing considerable capacity from Express AM44 (11°W) and Express AM22 (53°E). The new contract will bring Earthly Orbit’s use of the RSCC satellite capacity to nearly four transponders (in 36 MHz equivalent).
Earthly Orbit CEO Neville Ford says: “I am extremely pleased to be attending our second signing ceremony with RSCC in Geneva. Since our first ceremony in 2009, we have increased our commitments to RSCC by over 300%, and are now providing services throughout Europe, Africa and the Middle East, with planned expansion into Asia during the coming year. We expect to continue our growth and excellent relationship with RSCC, and we look forward to the upcoming launches in 2012 and 2013.”
“Serious international operators are interested in using RSCC’s space segment capability, testifying to high standards and quality of services being provided by the RSCC fleet, including in the Middle East”, RSCC Director-General Yuri Prokhorov stressed. “We appreciate the choice of RSCC by our UK partner Earthly Orbit and welcome their decision to develop their business on Express AM44 named for Russian scientist A.S.Popov, which is one of the best Russian satellites. We are also happy to continue our cooperation, including on the satellites which are currently being pursued by RSCC".
Express AM44 was orbited on 11 February 2009 and commissioned on 7 May 2009 at 11°W. The satellite carries 27 transponders, including 16 active Ku-, 10 С-Band and 1 L-Band transponders. Express AM44 is outfitted with four state-of-the-art antennas: 2 steerable antennas Ku- antennas, 1 С- and 1 L-Band antennas, ensuring coverage of Europe, the Middle East, Africa and America. The satellite was built by JSC “Information Satellite Systems” Reshetnev Company in collaboration with Alenia Space (France) and has a designed service life of 12 years. Express AM44 meets the user demand for satellite capacity for both TV and radio broadcasting and other communications services including telephony, data and broadband Internet, as well as government services.
The Russian Satellite Communications Company (RSCC), a Federal State-Owned Unitary Enterprise, is Russia’s national satellite communications operator. Established in 1967, RSCC operates satellites that support global coverage, and its orbit/frequency assets make it one of the ten largest satellite operators in the world. RSCC owns the largest satellite fleet in Russia. Via its satellites positioned from 14°W through 140°E, RSCC satellites operate over a coverage zone including all of Russia, CIS, Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia-Pacific region, North and South America and Australia. (RSCC Press Release)
Earthly Orbit is a leading satellite solution provider specialising in link design, network implementation, teleport services and space segment provision across the globe. Established in 2006, Earthly Orbit has offices in the UK and South East Asia. Earthly Orbit also partner with other leading satellite operators, offering particularly strong African, European and Middle East coverage. Earthly Orbit can provide space segment either on a wholesale basis or link-by-link, as well as providing full link designand integration and a choice of teleport locations around the world, ensuring best value and service anywhere at any time.
