Space Systems/Loral (SS/L) has announced that it shipped a communications satellite, designed and built for HISPASAT Group, to the European Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, where it is scheduled to launch next month aboard an Ariane 5 launch vehicle.

"HISPASAT and Space Systems/Loral share a commitment to making the benefits of satellite infrastructure available to communities around the world," said John Celli, president of SS/L.

"It is a privilege to help HISPASAT with the tools the company needs to expand its business."

HISPASAT 1E is a powerful, state-of-the art Ku-band Fixed Satellite Services (FSS) and Broadcast Satellite Services (BSS) spacecraft.

It will provide high-quality capacity for HISPASAT's new initiatives which include Direct to Home Television (DTH), Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT), value added broadband services in mobile, land and maritime environments, and high definition television (HDTV).

It will be positioned at 30 degrees West longitude, where it will expand coverage in Europe, the Americas, and North Africa.

With 53 high-power Ku-band transponders and Ka-band, HISPASAT 1E is based on the Space Systems/Loral 1300 space-proven platform which is designed with the flexibility to support a broad range of applications and technology advances.