Thales Alenia Space announced today that it has signed a contract with Telenor Satellite Broadcasting AS, a subsidiary of Norway's telecommunication provider Telenor, for the construction and delivery of a new GEO communications satellite, THOR 6. It is the first Thales Alenia Space satellite ordered by Telenor Satellite Broadcasting AS.
THOR 6 will provide high power direct-to-home (DTH) television broadcasting services over Nordics and Central European regions from 1 degree West Longitude orbital location. It will replace THOR III, which is set to retire in 2010, and also provide additional transponder capacity.
As prime contractor, Thales Alenia Space will be in charge of the design, construction and tests activities of THOR 6. Based on Thales Alenia Space Spacebus 4000B2 platform, THOR 6 will be fitted with 36 active Ku-band transponders and will have a launch mass of less than 3 tons. THOR 6 is scheduled to start services in summer 2009 with an operational lifetime of 15 years. This completes the replacement program of Telenor Satellite Broadcasting's THOR II and THOR III satellites.
Pascale Sourisse, President and CEO, Thales Alenia Space comments: "We are extremely gratified that an important operator such as Telenor Satellite Broadcasting AS has turned to Thales Alenia Space to provide a new powerful satellite. This contract heralds a new phase of cooperation with Telenor Satellite Broadcasting AS and is an additional recognition of the reliability of our Spacebus 4000 family". She added: "This contract also marks the new Thales Alenia Space's first satellite order."
"Telenor Satellite Broadcasting is looking forward to working with Thales Alenia Space in the delivery of THOR 6. With the launch of THOR 6, 1 West will have a total of 71 transponders, providing capacity to facilitate organic growth in the Nordic region and expansion into Central and Eastern Europe", says Cato Halsaa, Managing Director of Telenor Satellite Broadcasting.
