Telenor Orders
Launch Vehicle for Thor 6 From Arianespace
(20 June 2007) Telenor announced today
that it has signed a contract with Arianespace for the launch Service and
Solutions contract for Thor 6.
The satellite will be launched on
either an Ariane 5 or a Soyuz launcher from the Guiana Space Centre in French
Guiana.
Built by Thales Alenia Space, Thor 6 is the final satellite in
Telenor's replacement programme, which will provide high powered direct to home
television services from the 1° West position. Thor 6 is based on Thales
Alenia Space Spacebus 4000B2 platform, fitted with 36 active Ku-band
transponders, serving the Nordic countries and the growing broadcasting demands
within Central and Eastern Europe.
Commenting on Telenor's first
contract with Arianespace, Chairman and CEO of Arianespace, Jean-Yves Le Gall
said "We are very honoured to have earned the trust of Telenor in the provision
of our excellent launch Service & Solutions".
"We chose Arianespace
as they demonstrated the right combination of value and performance we require
to support the rigid launch timetable set for Thor 6" said David Gilmore,
Deputy CEO of Telenor Satellite Broadcasting.
Thor 6 is set to launch in
the summer of 2009.
About Telenor Satellite Broadcasting
Telenor
Satellite Broadcasting provides extensive television broadcasting services for
distribution, contribution and occasional applications to all the Nordic
Broadcasters and many other broadcasters throughout Europe, using its hybrid
network comprised of satellites, terrestrial circuits, international teleports
and remote earth stations. Additionally, it provides fixed satellite
communication and up linking services for data and remote Internet applications
in Europe and the Middle East. Telenor Satellite Broadcasting is a company
owned by Norway's telecommunication provider Telenor.
About
Arianespace
Headquartered just outside Paris, Arianespace is the
commercial launch services leader, holding more than 50 percent of the world
market for satellites to geostationary transfer orbit (GTO). Created as the
first commercial space transportation company in 1980, Arianespace has signed
contracts for more than 285 satellite payloads and launched 246 satellites.
Arianespace is responsible for the production, operation and marketing of the
Ariane 5 launchers, and is a partner in the commercial operations of Starsem's
Soyuz launch vehicle.
(source: Telenor Satellite
Broadcasting)