FUTURE SATELLITES

Eutelsat's in-orbit investment programme has three key objectives:

• Renewing our satellite fleet to maintain long-term relationships with our customers;
• Increasing our resources for emerging markets;
• Innovating and expanding the portfolio of applications running via our satellites.

LAUNCH: 2024

CONSTRUCTOR: Airbus

Eutelsat has signed a contract with Airbus for the procurement of EUTELSAT 36D, to succeed EUTELSAT 36B at 36° East.

With coverage of Africa, Russia and Europe, 36° East is a key orbital slot. Its two satellites, EUTELSAT 36B and EUTELSAT 36C, together notably support the broadcast businesses of major anchor customers including Multichoice and ZAP in Africa and Tricolor and NTV+ in Russia.

With 70 physical Ku-band transponders, the all-electric EUTELSAT 36D will assure all the main legacy missions of EUTELSAT 36B, with enhancements to coverage areas and performance.

Based on the state-of-the-art Airbus Eurostar Neo platform, the satellite is due for launch in the first half of 2024. 

Eutelsat has selected Thales Alenia Space to build a next-generation highly flexible, software-defined satellite.

The Flexsat (flexible satellite) will be based on Thales Alenia Space’s cutting-edge ‘Space Inspire’ (INstant SPace In-orbit REconfiguration) product line, enabling seamless reconfiguration and instant in-orbit adjustment to offer an optimum level of customer service, maximising the effective use of the satellite resources.

The new satellite will expand Eutelsat’s in-orbit assets providing more than 100 Gbps of incremental capacity over the Americas to support the surging Connectivity market. Its performances combined with the high level of flexibility in terms of coverage, bandwidth allocation, and power levels, will offer an unparalleled quality of service to Eutelsat customers for ADVANCE backhauling, enterprise, government, aero, and maritime solutions.

It will also be able to accommodate joint GEO-LEO services, specifically in zones where demand is highly concentrated.

The Flexsat is expected to be delivered in 2026.