The Russian Satellite Communication Company (RSCC) has signed two 15-year lease agreements with Eutelsat (News - Alert) Communications.

Eutelsat will lease capacity for broadcasting and IP services on two RSCC (News - Alert) satellites as per the contracts.

Value of these deals is estimated to be about €300 million and the satellites will be launched in 2013 and 2015 respectively.

RSCC's first satellite Express-??2 will be launched to 140° East in 2013 and will more than double Ku-band capacity for satellite broadcasting at the key video neighborhood serving Russia's Far East region.

Express-??2 is currently being constructed by ISS Reshetnev using a payload designed by Thales (News - Alert) Alenia Space.

“Over the past three years RSCC and Eutelsat have been moving towards a project that would essentially create new services that Russian satellite telecom users want: to view cutting-edge quality TV and personally participate in content formation, as well as have access to telecom service anywhere in the Russian Federation, both fixed and mobile,” said Yuri Prokhorov, RSCC director general.

RSCC's second satellite Express-AMU1 will be launched in 2015 to provide follow-on and expansion capacity for EUTELSAT 36A at the 36° East position. This state-of-the-art high-capacity satellite will provide coverage of the European part of the Russian Federation in Ku and Ka bands.

In addition, Express-AMU1 will also ensure service continuity and growth for broadcast markets developed by Eutelsat in sub-Saharan Africa.

“We share the common objective to continue to work together for the benefit of our customers and to deliver satellite resources that support the expansion of a vibrant digital economy for the Russian Federation,” said Eutelsat CEO, Michel de Rosen.

Eutelsat was in news last month for announcing that its EUTELSAT 70B satellite has arrived in Long Beach, California and been transported to the Sea Launch "Home Port" facility.