An artist's concept of an Alcatel satellite in space. Photo: Alcatel Space

Alcatel Space has announced the signature of a contract with Jersey-based AirTV Holdings Ltd to build a satellite system for the global live television broadcasting network dedicated to the commercial and private aviation markets. The contract amount was not disclosed. In parallel, the two companies signed a Memorandum of Agreement, which calls for Alcatel Space's operating arm, Spacecom, to become one of the strategic partners of AirTV in the first round of financing to be announced later this year.

For the contract, prime contractor Alcatel Space, has completed the system design and is responsible for the turnkey delivery of the overall space segment, including the following elements:

• four high-power S-band geostationary satellites delivered in orbit, the comprehensive ground control segment for the satellites, including satellite control centers, and telemetry, tracking & comand (TT&C) stations,
• several uplink stations to transmit programming to aircraft.

An announcement concerning the selection of a launch services provider will be made at a later date.

Based on the proven-in-orbit Spacebus platform, the satellites will provide seamless, global coverage (over the oceans as well as over the Earth's landmass) of up to forty live television channels and up to 300 audio channels providing multi-language programming. AirTV antennas are to be manufactured by BAE Systems Canada, the leading manufacturer of aircraft satellite communication antennas.

Alcatel Space's President and CEO, Jean-Claude Husson, said that, "Alcatel Space is proud to contribute to the development of a new satellite service with the delivery of direct TV and radio broadcasting to aircraft. Our announced partnership with AirTV comes after several months of strong cooperation with this company -- providing design, engineering, regulatory and marketing support. Alcatel Space's expertise in global satellite systems will once again help to create a new communications medium."

Drawing of AirTV satellite coverage.. Photo: AirTV

AirTV's Chairman and CEO, John D. Larkin, said, "We are pleased to see the fruition of our work with Alcatel Space. The countdown for live television on airplanes - anytime, anywhere live news, sports, and entertainment for the billion passengers flying each on long-haul routes - has begun. We are talking about a new media which will open untapped markets for broadcasters and advertisers around the world."

The four AirTV satellites, which will be assembled and integrated in Alcatel Space's clean rooms, located in Cannes (France) and Toulouse (France), will each include four very high power S-band transponders, for which amplification will be realized by several traveling wave tube amplifiers (TWTA's) assembled in a parallel configuration, a technique mastered by Alcatel Space for various programs. The satellites, for which the individual launch mass will be approximately 3800 kg, will each supply 8 kW of power for an operational lifetime of 12 years.

AirTV expects its worldwide service to commence in the year 2003.