Eutelsat 916440 225996361 2008-07-16T11:07:19Z 84.192.122.108 recent Eutelsat news {{Infobox_Company | company_name = Eutelsat S.A. | company_logo = | company_type = | foundation = [[1985]] | location = [[Paris]] </br> {{flag|France}} | key_people = [[Giuliano Berretta]] ([[Chief executive officer|CEO]]) | industry = [[Satellite communication]] | homepage = [http://www.eutelsat.com www.eutelsat.com] }} '''Eutelsat S.A.''' is a [[France|French]]-based [[telecommunications satellite|satellite]] provider. Providing coverage over the entire European continent, as well as the Middle East, Africa, India and significant parts of Asia and the Americas, it is one of the world's three leading satellite operators in terms of revenues. Eutelsat’s satellites are used for broadcasting over 2,500 [[television]] and 1000 [[radio]] stations to more than 164 million cable and satellite homes. They also serve requirements for TV contribution services, corporate networks, mobile positioning and communications, Internet backbone connectivity and broadband access for terrestrial, maritime and in-flight applications. Eutelsat is headquartered in [[Paris]]. Eutelsat Communications Chairman of the Board and ([[Chief executive officer|CEO]]) is [[Italy|Italian]] [[Giuliano Berretta]]. Its main craft have traditionally operated from 4 positions, each separated by three degrees of the [[Clarke belt]] - 7, 10, 13 and 16°E; although more positions are now operated. ==Satellites== Eutelsat commercialises capacity on 23 satellites located in geosynchronous orbit between 15 degrees West and 70.5 degrees East. {| class="wikitable" style="font-size:97%;" |- !width="170px"| Satellite !width="60px"| Location !width="230px"| Regions served !width="80px"| Launch |- ! [[Hot Bird]] 6<ref>{{cite web | title = NASA Spacecraft Details for NSSDC ID: 2002-038A | publisher = NASA | url = http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/masterCatalog.do?sc=2002-038A | accessdate = 2008-03-05}}</ref> | align="right"| 13° East | Europe, North Africa, Middle East | align="right"| Aug. 2002 |- ! Hot Bird 7A<ref>{{cite web | title = NASA Spacecraft Details for NSSDC ID: 2006-007B | publisher = NASA | url = http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=2006-007B | accessdate = 2008-03-05}}</ref> | align="right"| 13° East | Europe, North Africa, Middle East | align="right"| March 2006 |- ! Hot Bird 8<ref>{{cite web | title = NASA Spacecraft Details for NSSDC ID: 2001-011A | publisher = NASA | url = http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=2001-011A | accessdate = 2008-03-05}}</ref> | align="right"| 13° East | Europe, North Africa, Middle East | align="right"| Aug. 2006 |- ! [[Eurobird 1]]<ref>{{cite web | title = NASA Spacecraft Details for NSSDC ID: 2006-032A | publisher = NASA | url = http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=2006-032A | accessdate = 2008-03-05}}</ref> | align="right"| 28.5° East | Europe | align="right"| March 2001 |- ! [[Eurobird]] 2 | align="right"| 25.5° East | Europe, North Africa, Middle East | align="right"| Oct. 1998 |- ! [[Eurobird 3]] | align="right"| 33° East | Europe | align="right"| Sept. 2003 |- ! Eurobird 4 <small>(former [[Hot Bird]] 3)</small> | align="right"| 4° East | Europe, North Africa, Middle East | align="right"| Sept. 1997 |- ! Eurobird 9 <small>(former Hot Bird 2)</small> | align="right"| 9° East | Europe, North Africa, Middle East | align="right"| Nov. 1996 |- ! [[W Series|W1]] | align="right"| 10° East | Europe, Middle East, Africa | align="right"| Sept. 2000 |- ! [[W Series|W2]]<ref>{{cite web | title = NASA Spacecraft Details for NSSDC ID: 1998-056A | publisher = NASA | url = http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1998-056A | accessdate = 2008-03-05}}</ref> | align="right"| 16° East | Europe, Middle East, Africa | align="right"| Oct. 1998 |- ! [[W Series|W3A]] | align="right"| 7° East | Europe, Middle East, Africa | align="right"| March 2004 |- ! [[W Series|W4]] | align="right"| 36° East | Africa, Russia | align="right"| May 2000 |- ! [[W Series|W5]] | align="right"| 70.5° East | Europe, Middle East, Asia, Australia | align="right"| Nov. 2002 |- ! [[W Series|W6]] | align="right"| 21.5° East | Europe, Middle East, Africa | align="right"| Apr. 1999 |- ! [[SESAT|SESAT 1]] | align="right"| 36° East | Europe, North Africa, Middle East, Asia | align="right"| Apr. 2000 |- ! [[Atlantic Bird]] 1 | align="right"| 12.5° West | Europe, Middle East, Americas | align="right"| Aug. 2002 |- ! Atlantic Bird 2 | align="right"| 8° West | Europe, Middle East, Americas | align="right"| Sept. 2001 |- ! Atlantic Bird 3 | align="right"| 5° West | Europe, Americas, Africa | align="right"| Jul. 2002 |- ! Atlantic Bird 4 <small>(former Hot Bird 4)</small> | align="right"| 7° West | Europe, North Africa, Middle East | align="right"| Feb. 1998 |- |} ===Planned future satellites=== {| class="wikitable" style="font-size:97%;" |- !width="170px"| Satellite !width="60px"| Location !width="230px"| Regions served !width="80px"| Launch |- ! [[W Series|W2M]] | align="right"| 10° East | Europe, Africa, Middle East | align="center"| 2008 |- ! [[W Series|W2A]] | align="right"| 16° East | Europe, Africa, Middle East | align="center"| 2009 |- ! [[W Series|W7]] | align="right"| 36° East | Europe, Africa, Middle East, Russia | align="center"| 2009 |- ! [[Hot Bird|Hot Bird 9]] | align="right"| 13° East | Europe, Africa, Middle East | align="center"| 2008 |- ! [[Hot Bird|Hot Bird 10]] | align="right"| 13° East | Europe, Africa, Middle East | align="center"| 2009 |- ! [[W Series|W3B]] | align="right"| 7° East | Europe, Africa, Middle East | align="center"| 2010 |- ! [[W Series|Ka-Sat]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.space.com/spacenews/KaBand_010708.html|title=ViaSat, Eutelsat Order Ka-band Satellites|date=[[2008-01-08]]|accessdate=2008-03-05|publisher=[http://www.space.com/spacenews/ Space News]|first=PETER B. |last=de SELDING}}</ref> | align="right"| 13° East | Europe | align="center"| 2010 |- |} ===Rented capacity=== {| class="wikitable" style="font-size:97%;" |- !width="170px"| Satellite !width="60px"| Location !width="230px"| Regions served !width="80px"| Launch |- ! Telecom 2D | align="right"| 8° West | Europe | align="right"| Aug. 1996 |- ! Telstar 12 | align="right"| 15° West | Europe, Americas | align="right"| Oct. 1999 |- ! Express A3 | align="right"| 11° West | Europe, North Africa, Middle East | align="right"| Jun. 2000 |- ! Express AM22 (SESAT 2) | align="right"| 53° East | Europe, North Africa, Middle East, Asia | align="right"| Dec. 2003 |- |} ===Former satellites=== {| class="wikitable" style="font-size:97%; text-align:center;" |- !width="170px"| Satellite !width="65px"| Primary position !Launched !Inclined !Retired |- ! [[Eutelsat 1F series|1F1]] | align="right"| 13° East | 1983 || 1989 || 1996 |- ! |[[Eutelsat 1F series|1F2]] | align="right"| 7° East | 1984 || 1990 || 1993 |- ! [[Eutelsat 1F series|1F4]] | align="right"| 13°/7° East | 1987 || 1993 || 2002 |- ! [[Eutelsat 1F series|1F5]] | align="right"| 10° East | 1988 || 1994 || 2000 |- ! [[Eutelsat 2F series|2F1]] | align="right"| 13° East | 1990 || 1999 || 2003 |- ! [[Eutelsat 2F series|2F2]] | align="right"| 10° East | 1991 || 2000 || 2005 |- ! [[Eutelsat 2F series|2F3]] | align="right"| 16° East | 1991 || 2000 || 2004 |- ! [[Eutelsat 2F series|2F4]] | align="right"| 7° East | 1992 || 2001 || 2003 |- ! [[Hot Bird]] 1 | align="right"| 13° East | 1995 || 2006 |- |} ==Services== <table width="100%" border="1"> <tr> <td><strong>Video Applications</strong></td> <td><strong>Professional Data Networks</strong></td> <td><strong>Broadband Services</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Direct broadcasting of TV and radio</td> <td>Private networks</td> <td>IP backbone connectivity</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Cable distribution</td> <td>Data broadcasting </td> <td>Virtual Private Networks</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Satellite newsgathering</td> <td>Business TV, videoconferencing</td> <td>Broadband access on ground, at sea, in-flight</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Programme exchanges </td> <td>Mobile services (messaging, positioning)</td> <td>Multicasting and IP content distribution</td> </tr> </table> ==History== The '''European Telecommunications Satellite Organization''' (Eutelsat) was originally set up in [[1977]] as an intergovernmental organisation (IGO) to develop and operate a satellite-based telecommunications infrastructure for Europe. It started operations with the launch of its first satellite in 1983. Initially established to address satellite communications demand in Western Europe, Eutelsat rapidly developed its infrastructure to expand coverage to additional markets, such as Central and Eastern Europe in 1989, and the Middle East, the African continent, and large parts of Asia and the Americas from the 1990s. Eutelsat was the first satellite operator in Europe to broadcast television channels direct-to-home. It developed its premium neighbourhood of five [[Hot Bird]] satellites in the mid-1990s to offer capacity that would be able to attract hundreds of channels to the same orbital location, appealing to widespread audiences for consumer satellite TV. With the general liberalisation of the telecommunications sector in Europe, the IGO’s operations and activities were transferred to a private company called Eutelsat S.A. in July 2001. In April 2005, the principal shareholders of Eutelsat S.A. grouped their investment in a new entity (Eutelsat Communications), which is now the holding company of the Group owning 95.2% of Eutelsat S.A. on October 6th, 2005. ==Recent news== '''European satellite operator Eutelsat suppresses independent Chinese-language TV station NTDTV to satisfy Beijing''' Previously unpublished conversation by Eutelsat employee confirms move was politically motivated [Reporters Without Borders http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=27818] calls on Giuliano Berretta, the CEO of the European satellite company Eutelsat, to quickly reverse its decision to suspend independent Chinese-language broadcaster NTDTV’s use of Eutelsat’s W5 satellite to broadcast to Asia. Eutelsat claims it was forced to suspend NTDTV (New Tang Dynasty Television) on 16 June because of a technical problem but a recorded conversation with an employee of Eutelsat show it was a premeditated, politically-motivated decision violating the free flow of information and the convention under which Eutelsat operates. “The real reason for the decision to suppress NTDTV exposes how Eutelsat operates in China,” the press freedom organisation said. “The company’s credibility is at stake and we urge its shareholders to intervene as quickly as possible so that NTDTV can resume broadcasting on this satellite. If that is not done, none of the TV companies that are Eutelsat clients will ever be sure they could not also be arbitrarily disconnected one day because of their content.” Reporters Without Borders added: “NTDTV’s broadcasts irked the Chinese government because, thanks to this satellite, they could be freely received in tens of millions of Chinese homes. Their suspension just a few weeks ahead of the Olympic Games looks like a favour provided by Eutelsat with the aim of obtaining new deals. Eutelsat tried to drop NTDTV once before, in 2005, but an international campaign forced it to sign a new long term contract.” In a recorded conversation on 23 June with an interlocutor the employee thought was a Chinese Propaganda Department official, a Eutelsat representative in Beijing said: “It was our company’s CEO in France who decided to stop NTDTV’s signal. (...)We could have turned off any of the transponders. (...) It was because we got repeated complaints and reminder from the Chinese government. (...) Two years ago, the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television kept saying the same thing over and over: ‘Stop that TV station before we begin to talk.’ Reporters Without Borders is posting a transcript of this conversation on its website (www.rsf.org) and it has an audio recording that is available to the media. A New York-based TV station with links to the Falun Gong spiritual movement, NTDTV began broadcasting in Chinese four years ago. Its programmes are very different from the content on China’s state TV stations. There is a great deal of coverage of human rights issues, including the repression in Tibet and of religious groups such as Falungong and the underground Christian churches. The day after it stopped transmitting NTDTV, Eutelsat issued a statement saying the W5 satellite has suffered serious technical problems that had forced the company to reduce the number of transponders and stop broadcasting several TV stations. Eutelsat and Thales, the French company that made the satellite, are doing more and more business in China. It was Thales that manufactured Zhongxing-9, the satellite that was put in orbit last month to guarantee good coverage of the Olympic Games. Eutelsat has signed a contract with China to use its Long March rocket to launch Eutelsat satellites. The Wall Street Journal wrote in April: “Eutelsat for years has been trying to find a way to penetrate the Chinese market, and launch contracts are widely seen as one way to help reach that goal.” As a company headquartered in France, Eutelsat is nonetheless obliged to respect the principles of equality of access, pluralism and non-discrimination enshrined in article 3 of a convention governing the operations of satellite companies. Ever since NTDTV was launched in February 2002, the Chinese government has been trying to get its broadcasts suppressed by pressuring satellite operators and governments. == Bibliography == * {{fr}} {{en}} [[Guy Lebègue]], (trad. Robert J. Amral), « [[Eutelsat]] II: OK For West-to-East Service! », in ''[[Revue aerospatiale]]'', n°73, November 1990. == External links == * [http://www.eutelsat.com/ Eutelsat S.A.] * [http://www.globcos.ch GLOBCOS NetWorks GmbH - Switzerland] ==References== <!--See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Footnotes for an explanation of how to generate footnotes using the <ref(erences/)> tags--> {{Unreferenced|date=February 2008}} {{reflist}} {{CAC Mid 100}} [[Category:Communications satellites]] [[Category:Satellite operators]] <!-- [[en:Eutelsat]] --> [[ar:يوتلسات]] [[de:Eutelsat]] [[es:Eutelsat]] [[fa:یوتل‌ست]] [[fr:Eutelsat]] [[it:Eutelsat]] [[hu:Eutelsat]] [[nl:Eutelsat]] [[no:Eutelsat]] [[pl:Eutelsat]] [[ru:Eutelsat]] [[fi:Eutelsat (satelliitti)]]