SES AMERICOM's AMC-11 Satellite Completes In-Orbit Testing
State-of-the-art spacecraft set to join AMC-10 later this year in support of HD-PRIMETM, America’s Only Two-Satellite HD Cable Neighborhood
July 13, 2004 - Princeton, NJ - With in-orbit testing recently completed
aboard its AMC-11 satellite, SES AMERICOM, an SES GLOBAL company
(Euronext Paris, Luxembourg and Frankfurt Stock Exchanges: SESG), today
announced the A2100 model spacecraft is preparing to join its identical
twin in support of HD-PRIMETM, the first and only two-satellite
neighborhood capable of delivering HD to cable headends and consumers
nationwide. The company launched AMC-11 in May to provide its cable
programming customers with redundancy protection and a seamless
replacement of the current satellite, prior to AMC-11’s planned service
commencement in November.
A growing list of top programmers are already scheduled to distribute
dozens of standard and high definition channels over AMC-11, the second
SES AMERICOM satellite to support the HD-PRIME neighborhood, which
initiated service two months ago this week aboard AMC-10. The impressive
roster of programmers distributing, and slated to distribute, a rich
schedule of entertaining and informative channels aboard HD-PRIMETM
include Viacom, Discovery Communications, E! Networks, A&E Television
Networks, Hallmark Channel, iN DEMAND, Lifetime Entertainment, NBC, QVC,
Scripps Networks, and The Weather Channel.
Launched on an Atlas IIAS on May 19, AMC-11 will operate from 131
degrees west longitude beginning this fall. Currently located at 146
degrees WL, AMC-11’s initial payload, color bar, SSPAs, and receiver
testing indicate great performance. Bus testing directed and monitored
from SES AMERICOM’s earth station in Vernon Valley, New Jersey together
with payload testing from the company’s South Mountain facility also
point to a stellar start for the state-of-the-art satellite, which will
be distributing some of the country’s most popular programming to more
than 80 million homes.
"AMC-11 represents SES AMERICOM’s continuous innovation and investment
in meeting the needs and exceeding the expectations of our vast range of
customers who have signed up to distribute their programming using
HD-PRIMETM, the most reliable and advanced cable delivery platform in
the U.S.," said Dean Olmstead, president and CEO, SES AMERICOM. "When
AMC-11 joins AMC-10 by initiating service later this year, the industry
and virtually every cable household will be served like never before,
with the reliability and household penetration that only HD-PRIMETM can
deliver."
The Satellites and HD-PRIME
AMC-10 and AMC-11 are all-C-band satellites, with respective operating
orbital slots of 135 degrees west longitude and 131 degrees west
longitude. The two A2100 spacecraft have been optimized for next
generation programming services, including high definition channels.
Each of the 24 transponders is supported by at least one 20 watt SSPA,
delivering almost a 20% increase in power over their predecessors,
Satcom C-3 and Satcom C-4. In addition, a higher level of on-board
redundancy plus an in-orbit protection satellite, AMC-7, currently
operating at 137 degrees west longitude, will protect the cable
programming services.
About SES AMERICOM
The largest supplier of satellite services in the U.S., SES AMERICOM,
Inc. is recognized as a pioneer of global satellite communications
services. Established in 1973 with its first satellite circuit for the
U.S. Department of Defense, the company currently operates a fleet of 16
spacecraft in orbital positions predominantly providing service
throughout the Americas. As a member of the SES GLOBAL family, SES
AMERICOM is able to provide end-to-end telecommunications solutions to
any region in the world. In 2001, the company established AMERICOM
Government Services, a wholly owned subsidiary dedicated to providing
satellite-based communications solutions to both civilian and defense
agencies of the U.S. government. In 2003, SES AMERICOM formed WORLDSAT,
a wholly owned subsidiary that markets capacity on four satellites
covering Asia, and the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean regions, and
connecting premier regional satellite fleets. With its combined
operations, SES AMERICOM serves broadcasters, cable programmers,
aeronautical and maritime communications integrators, Internet service
providers, mobile communications networks, government agencies,
educational institutions, carriers and secure global data networks with
efficient communication and content distribution solutions. SES AMERICOM
key customers include ABC Radio Networks, Antrix Corporation Ltd., AT&T
Alascom, British Telecom, Connexion by Boeing, Deutsche Welle,
Discovery, EchoStar, Fox, Gannett, TV Guide/Gemstar, Globecomm Systems,
HBO, Hughes Network Systems, JSAT, Korea Telecom, MCI, NBC, The New York
Times, NHK, PaxNet, PBS, PCCW, SCC, TELE Greenland, TV Europa,
TimeWarner, Unitel Hellas, Viacom, and various agencies of the U.S.
government.
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State-of-the-art spacecraft set to join AMC-10 later this year in support of HD-PRIMETM, America’s Only Two-Satellite HD Cable Neighborhood
July 13, 2004 - Princeton, NJ - With in-orbit testing recently completed
aboard its AMC-11 satellite, SES AMERICOM, an SES GLOBAL company
(Euronext Paris, Luxembourg and Frankfurt Stock Exchanges: SESG), today
announced the A2100 model spacecraft is preparing to join its identical
twin in support of HD-PRIMETM, the first and only two-satellite
neighborhood capable of delivering HD to cable headends and consumers
nationwide. The company launched AMC-11 in May to provide its cable
programming customers with redundancy protection and a seamless
replacement of the current satellite, prior to AMC-11’s planned service
commencement in November.
A growing list of top programmers are already scheduled to distribute
dozens of standard and high definition channels over AMC-11, the second
SES AMERICOM satellite to support the HD-PRIME neighborhood, which
initiated service two months ago this week aboard AMC-10. The impressive
roster of programmers distributing, and slated to distribute, a rich
schedule of entertaining and informative channels aboard HD-PRIMETM
include Viacom, Discovery Communications, E! Networks, A&E Television
Networks, Hallmark Channel, iN DEMAND, Lifetime Entertainment, NBC, QVC,
Scripps Networks, and The Weather Channel.
Launched on an Atlas IIAS on May 19, AMC-11 will operate from 131
degrees west longitude beginning this fall. Currently located at 146
degrees WL, AMC-11’s initial payload, color bar, SSPAs, and receiver
testing indicate great performance. Bus testing directed and monitored
from SES AMERICOM’s earth station in Vernon Valley, New Jersey together
with payload testing from the company’s South Mountain facility also
point to a stellar start for the state-of-the-art satellite, which will
be distributing some of the country’s most popular programming to more
than 80 million homes.
"AMC-11 represents SES AMERICOM’s continuous innovation and investment
in meeting the needs and exceeding the expectations of our vast range of
customers who have signed up to distribute their programming using
HD-PRIMETM, the most reliable and advanced cable delivery platform in
the U.S.," said Dean Olmstead, president and CEO, SES AMERICOM. "When
AMC-11 joins AMC-10 by initiating service later this year, the industry
and virtually every cable household will be served like never before,
with the reliability and household penetration that only HD-PRIMETM can
deliver."
The Satellites and HD-PRIME
AMC-10 and AMC-11 are all-C-band satellites, with respective operating
orbital slots of 135 degrees west longitude and 131 degrees west
longitude. The two A2100 spacecraft have been optimized for next
generation programming services, including high definition channels.
Each of the 24 transponders is supported by at least one 20 watt SSPA,
delivering almost a 20% increase in power over their predecessors,
Satcom C-3 and Satcom C-4. In addition, a higher level of on-board
redundancy plus an in-orbit protection satellite, AMC-7, currently
operating at 137 degrees west longitude, will protect the cable
programming services.
About SES AMERICOM
The largest supplier of satellite services in the U.S., SES AMERICOM,
Inc. is recognized as a pioneer of global satellite communications
services. Established in 1973 with its first satellite circuit for the
U.S. Department of Defense, the company currently operates a fleet of 16
spacecraft in orbital positions predominantly providing service
throughout the Americas. As a member of the SES GLOBAL family, SES
AMERICOM is able to provide end-to-end telecommunications solutions to
any region in the world. In 2001, the company established AMERICOM
Government Services, a wholly owned subsidiary dedicated to providing
satellite-based communications solutions to both civilian and defense
agencies of the U.S. government. In 2003, SES AMERICOM formed WORLDSAT,
a wholly owned subsidiary that markets capacity on four satellites
covering Asia, and the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean regions, and
connecting premier regional satellite fleets. With its combined
operations, SES AMERICOM serves broadcasters, cable programmers,
aeronautical and maritime communications integrators, Internet service
providers, mobile communications networks, government agencies,
educational institutions, carriers and secure global data networks with
efficient communication and content distribution solutions. SES AMERICOM
key customers include ABC Radio Networks, Antrix Corporation Ltd., AT&T
Alascom, British Telecom, Connexion by Boeing, Deutsche Welle,
Discovery, EchoStar, Fox, Gannett, TV Guide/Gemstar, Globecomm Systems,
HBO, Hughes Network Systems, JSAT, Korea Telecom, MCI, NBC, The New York
Times, NHK, PaxNet, PBS, PCCW, SCC, TELE Greenland, TV Europa,
TimeWarner, Unitel Hellas, Viacom, and various agencies of the U.S.
government.
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