The W7 satellite of Eutelsat Communications has been successfully lofted into orbit by a Proton Breeze M rocket supplied by ILS.

After a 9-hour 12-minute flight, the launcher released W7 into geosynchronous transfer orbit.  Commenting after successful spacecraft separation, Eutelsat CEO, Michel de Rosen said: “Our W7 satellite is on its way to 36° East. This new satellite will be a key pillar for our business development at a well-established neighbourhood, addressing dynamic markets with clear potential for sustained growth. W7 will support expansion of pay-TV platforms in Russia and across Africa. It will also give us headroom to expand telecoms and data activity in a vast region embracing Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Central Asia.

With three new satellites having already entered into commercial service in 2009 – HOT

BIRD™ 9, ATLANTIC BIRD™ 4A and W2A – today’s launch also represents a new step

forward in Eutelsat’s significant in-orbit expansion programme. Four additional satellites will

follow W7 into orbit by the end of 2011.

W7 is based on the Spacebus 4000C4 design, built for Eutelsat by Thales Alenia Space.

Colocated with W4, Eutelsat’s new satellite will double resources at the 36 degrees East

location. Has an operational lifetime of 15 years.

Eutelsat Communications announced as well the signature of a far-reaching contract concluded between its Skylogic broadband affiliate and SFR, one of the leading telecommunications operators in France. SFR has selected Tooway to meet demand for broadband from its customers beyond ADSL coverage. Called the ‘Satellite Internet Pack’ the new service supplied by SFR was launched today using capacity on Eutelsat’s HOT BIRD™ 6 satellite. It will be extended on Eutelsat’s new-generation KA-SAT satellite whose launch is scheduled for end 2010.

 Source: Eutelsat