International Launch Services and SES Satellite Leasing have signed an agreement for the launch of QuetzSat-1, a communications satellite, on a Proton booster rocket in 2011.

The Ku-band satellite, owned by SES, is fully contacted to an EchoStar Corporation subsidiary and will provide capacity on QuetzSat-1 to DISH Network Corporation for its direct to home (DTH) television services in the US.

QuetzSat-1 will also be used in part by Dish Mexico, an EchoStar joint venture, for DTH services in Mexico.

The satellite will also provide coverage over North America and Central America.

QuetzSat-1 is being built by Space Systems/Loral for SES.