Eutelsat Communications has placed an order with Thales Alenia Space for the development of a next-generation very-high-throughput satellite (VHTS) system known as KONNECT VHTS.

Scheduled to enter service in 2021, the satellite is expected to help Eutelsat to establish its European fixed broadband and in-flight connectivity businesses.

Thales will also develop the ground segment solution for the satellite, which will weigh 6.3t and feature a 500Gbps Ka-band capacity.

Eutelsat’s investment in KONNECT VHTS has replaced a project that involves a joint project with ViaSat in a ViaSat 3 satellite for Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

“Thales will use its fully electric Spacebus NEO platform to build the KONNECT VHTS satellite.”

The investment will be covered by Eutelsat’s capital expenditure objective of an average of €420m per annum.

Eutelsat Communications CEO Rodolphe Belmer said: “As a core complement to terrestrial broadband networks, high-speed broadband will be a critical driver of Eutelsat’s growth from 2020 onwards.

“Over the next decade, VHTS satellites will bring enough capacity to serve high-speed internet and in-flight connectivity markets at scale, offering fibre-like services both in terms of price and speed.”

In addition, Eutelsat signed multi-year distribution pacts with Thales and French phone carrier Orange, which will sell service from the new satellite to remote customers across the Europe.

Thales Alenia Space chairman and CEO Patrice Caine said: “With this partnership, Thales is supporting France and Europe in their ambitious drive to ensure universal access to high-speed broadband across their territories.”

Thales will use its fully electric Spacebus NEO platform to build the KONNECT VHTS satellite.

The spacecraft will feature a flexible and digital VHTS payload, including the latest innovations from the company and its government partners such as CNES, European Space Agency and French investment programme ‘Programme d’Investissements d’Avenir’.