SSL selected to provide multi-mission satellite to HISPASAT Group

Commercial satellite provider Space Systems/Loral (SSL), based in Palo Alto, CA, announced on December 5 that it was selected to provide a multi-mission communications satellite to Spanish satellite operator HISPASAT Group.  The satellite, Amazonas 5, will be used for a broad range of services in Latin America.

“I would like to thank HISPASAT for its ongoing confidence in SSL,” said John Celli, president of SSL. “Amazonas 5 is the fourth satellite that we will build for HISPASAT, with two currently on orbit and another in backlog. We look forward to continued teamwork on this high performance satellite that will help HISPASAT broaden the availability of high quality communications inLatin America.”

Amazonas 5 has a high throughput Ka-band spot beam payload, which will be used for broadband service in South America, Central America and Mexico.  It also has a Ku-band beam for fixed satellite services, which will be used for television, corporate networks and other telecommunications applications in South America and Central America.

“We are very happy to team with SSL on Amazonas 5,” said Carlos Espinós, chief executive officer of HISPASAT.  “As the leader in commercial satellite manufacturing, SSL is well-positioned to support our current innovation and expansion initiatives by providing us with an outstanding satellite.”

Amazonas 5 is based on the SSL 1300 platform that provides the flexibility for a broad range of applications and technology advances.  Scheduled for launch in 2017, the satellite is designed to deliver service for 15 years or longer.

SOURCE MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd.