PARIS, October 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

The EUTELSAT 21B satellite of Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL) has arrived in Kourou, French Guiana, and is now being prepared for launch on November 9 by Arianespace on board an Ariane 5 rocket (Flight VA210). Lift-off is planned from 22.05 (CET) at the beginning of a launch window lasting 106 minutes.

Weighing 5 tons at lift-off, EUTELSAT 21B has been built for Eutelsat by Thales Alenia Space using its established Spacebus 4000 platform. The satellite is designed to operate in orbit for 15 years.

The 40-transponder Ku-band satellite will occupy the 21.5° East position developed by Eutelsat since 1999 into a location of choice for telcos, enterprises and government administrations operating in Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia. Its deployment will enable Eutelsat to boost capacity at this sought-after location by almost 50%.

Eutelsat's newest satellite will replace EUTELSAT 21A which will subsequently be redeployed to another location for continued commercial service.

The launch will be videostreamed live on http://www.eutelsat.com.

About Eutelsat Communications

Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL, ISIN code: FR0010221234) is the holding company of Eutelsat S.A. With capacity commercialised on 29 satellites that provide coverage across Europe, as well as the Middle East, Africa and significant parts of Asia and the Americas, Eutelsat is one of the world's three leading satellite operators. As of 30 June 2012 Eutelsat's satellites were broadcasting more than 4,250 television channels to over 200 million cable and satellite homes in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The Group's satellites also serve a wide range of fixed and mobile telecommunications services, TV contribution markets, corporate networks, and broadband markets for Internet Service Providers and for transport, maritime and in-flight markets. Eutelsat's broadband subsidiary, Skylogic, markets and operates high speed Internet services through teleports in France and Italy that serve consumers, enterprises, local communities, government agencies and aid organisations in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas. Headquartered in Paris, Eutelsat and its subsidiaries employ just over 750 commercial, technical and operational professionals. This culturally diverse staff comprises employees from 30 countries. http://www.eutelsat.com

SOURCE Eutelsat Communications