Thales Alenia Space has delivered a new Inmarsat S-band / Hellas Sat 3 telecommunication satellite to the Kourou launch pad in French Guyana.

Built for Inmarsat and Hellas Sat, the condominium satellite is to be launched aboard an Ariane 5 rocket next month.

Following its launch, the satellite will provide mobile, fixed and broadcast satellite services.

Thales Alenia Space telecommunications business line vice-president Bertrand Maureau said: “Inmarsat S-band / Hellas Sat 3 is the fourth satellite from Thales Alenia Space to be shipped to the Guiana Space Center in 2017.

“Inmarsat S-band / Hellas-Sat 3 will be the 14th satellite built by Thales Alenia Space to be launched since the beginning of the year.”

The Inmarsat payload featured in the satellite will deliver an S-band service across all 28 member states of the EU, in addition to Norway and Switzerland, while the fixed and broadcast satellite service payload of Hellas Sat will cover Europe, Middle East and Southern Africa.

“Inmarsat S-band / Hellas-Sat 3 will be the 14th satellite built by Thales Alenia Space to be launched since the beginning of the year.”

The Inmarsat S-band payload will also provide improved mobile services across Europe through an integrated network that combines S-band satellite services with a long-term evolution (LTE) based ground network covering operated by Inmarsat’s partner Deutsche Telekom.

The Inmarsat S-band will also support the company’s European Aviation Network, an integrated satellite and ground system that will offer airline passengers high-capacity inflight broadband services in a small, lightweight solution.

The included Hellas-Sat 3 payload will deliver direct-to-home (DTH) and Telecom services across Europe, Middle East and South Africa, maintaining and expanding Hellas-Sat’s presence.


Image: New Inmarsat S-band / Hellas Sat 3 satellite shipped to its launch pad in French Guyana. Photo: courtesy of Thales Alenia Space.