Eutelsat (News - Alert) Communications recently announced that its EUTELSAT 3D satellite, which arrived at the Baikonour Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on April 13, is presently undergoing final preparations for launch by a Proton Breeze M rocket which will be supplied by ILS. The satellite is expected to lift off on May 14. Spacecraft separation will take place after a 9 hour 13 minute flight time.

Weighing 5.4 tons at lift-off, the satellite has been designed and built by Thales (News - Alert) Alenia Space, and is to orbit for 15 years. It was built over the Spacebus 4000 platform from Thales Alenia Space.  

Sporting a baseline design which will effectively consolidate Eutelsat's complete in-orbit flexibility and back-up from multiple orbital slots, EUTELSAT 3D first location will be at the 3 degrees East orbital position - which will enable it to address high-growth video, data, telecom and broadband needs.

Designed with Ku and Ka transponders configuration connected to three footprints, the EUTELSAT 3D satellite will address the needs of customers across Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia. Furthermore, a fourth service area in the Ku-band will help in addressing market demands in sub-Saharan Africa.

The satellite will operate at 3 degrees East until the time when it moves to this position in 2014 to address spectrum growth and to support operational flexibility in C, Ku and Ka bands – then the satellite will continue with its service at 7 degrees East.