Credit: EADS Astrium

EADS Astrium has been selected by Telesat, one of the world's leading satellite operators, to build the company's new Anik F3 satellite. This is the second order for a Eurostar E3000 satellite received from the Canadian-based operator, which ordered the Anik F1R satellite from EADS Astrium in January 2003. Planned to enter into service in 2006, Anik F3 will provide satellite communications services in C, Ku and Ka-bands over a large area covering North America from its orbital location of 118.7 deg. West.

"For thirty-five years, quality and reliability have been the hallmarks of Telesat's services to its customers, and that's what we look for every time we plan a new satellite," said Larry Boisvert, Telesat's president and CEO. "Anik F3 will be the second EADS Astrium-built satellite in Telesat's fleet, and we look forward to continuing this productive and successful collaboration."

Antoine Bouvier, CEO of EADS Astrium, said: "We are delighted that Telesat has demonstrated its confidence in EADS Astrium with this second spacecraft order. This builds on the excellent relations we have developed with Telesat over the past year on the Anik F1R satellite programme. Telesat is recognised worldwide for its technical expertise. Their decision to select us again is a proof of the competitiveness of our E3000 product line, the confidence in its design and the reliability already demonstrated by the Eurostar family of satellites."

EADS Astrium, as prime contractor for Anik F3, will design and build the satellite and supply both the payload and the platform. Canadian industry will supply a significant part of the spacecraft equipment and technology. The satellite will provide a full range of satellite communications services that include telephony, business communications, Internet-based services and television transmission and is equipped with 24 active transponders in C-band, 32 in Ku-band and 2 in Ka-band.

The spacecraft will have a launch mass of 4.6 tonnes, a solar array span of 35 metres once deployed in orbit, and spacecraft power of 10 kW at end of life. The satellite, operating in geostationary orbit, will provide commercial services for a minimum of 15 years. Anik F3 is based on the E3000 version of the highly successful Eurostar communications satellite family as is Anik F1R. Thirty-eight Eurostar spacecrafts have been ordered to date, of which twenty-four have already been launched and have proven highly reliable in operational service. The first E3000 spacecraft, W3A, is now safely in geostationary orbit and ten others are now being manufactured.

Telesat is a pioneer and world leader in satellite operations and systems management. The company made history in 1972 with the launch of the first domestic commercial communications satellite in geostationary orbit. Today, Telesat competes with other top international satellite fleets in providing telecommunications and broadcasting services throughout the Americas, and is a leading consultant, operator and partner in satellite ventures around the globe. Telesat is a wholly owned subsidiary of BCE Inc., a leading communications company with shares listed in the United States, Canada and Europe.

EADS Astrium is Europe's leading satellite system specialist. Its activities cover complete civil and military telecommunications and Earth observation systems, science and navigation programmes, and all spacecraft avionics and equipment.

EADS Astrium is a wholly owned subsidiary of EADS SPACE, which is dedicated to providing civil and defence space systems. In 2003 EADS SPACE had a turnover of e2.4 billion and 12,000 employees in France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Spain.

EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2003, EADS generated revenues of e30.1 billion and employed a workforce of more than 100,000.