Arabsat-5C & SES-2

ARABSAT has selected in January 2009 the consortium of Astrium and Thales Alenia Space to build and deliver in orbit the new satellite Arabsat 5C. Arabsat-5C, a multi-mission satellite, will provide satellite capacity in both C-band and Ka-band frequencies at the Arabsat position 20°E for a wide range of satellite communications services. A Eurostar-3000 model equipped with a payload featuring 26 active transponders in C-band and 12 in Ka-band, Arabsat-5C will have a spacecraft power of 10 kW at the end of its 15-year design lifetime.

SES-2 is a communications satellite operated by SES World Skies. It was launched on 21 September 2011 on an Ariane 5 ECA vehicle, alongside the Arabsat-5C satellite. It entered into commercial service on 27 October 2011 in the 87° West orbital location.