The launch of Intelsat 21 and Intelsat 23 will take place on an International Launch Services (ILS) Proton vehicle.

Intelsat 23 is due to launch in late 2011, while Intelsat-21 is planned for lift-off in early 2012.

The 6,300kg Intelsat 21 being built by Boeing is based on the 702B spacecraft platform and will be placed in the 65,000km super-synchronous transfer orbit by the Proton launch vehicle.

The satellite will provide C and Ku-band capacity for broadband, video and voice applications over the Americas and Europe by replacing Intelsat 9 at 302°E.

Intelsat 23 satellite weighing 2,730kg is under development by Orbital based on its Star 2.4E platform and will be inserted into the geostationary orbit.

The spacecraft will offer communication for the Americas, Europe and Africa with C-band and Ku-band coverage at 307°E.