| MUMBAI:
As part of its upcoming ambitious fleet renewal and expansion program for the
next 3 years, Satcom operator Arabsat has selected Arianespace for the launch
of its recently ordered BADR-6 satellite in 2008. BADR-6, a fourth-generation
satellite, will be built jointly by EADS-Astrium and AlcatelAleniaSpace for the
communications payload, based on the Eurostar 2000+ platform. Weighing 3,400 kg
at launch, the satellite will be fitted with 24 C-band and 20 Ku-band transponders
with a design life of about 15 years. BADR-6 is designed to primarily provide
video broadcasting services for the entire Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
region from Arabsat's 26°East geostationary orbital location and by far the
MENA region's leading video neighbourhood. Co-located with the rest of
the BADR constellation of satellites at Arabsat's "hot-spot" for DTH
entertainment, it will be reaching an audience of 130 Million viewers from Morocco
to the Gulf and a large part of sub-Saharan Africa. Moreover, BADR-6 will also
provide Arabsat with additional in-orbit back-up capacity for its core television
and radio customers, as well as a significantly larger number of options for optimising
its telephony and data transmissions. Arianespace CEO Jean-Yves
Le Gall says, "Arianespace is very proud and honoured to have once again
been chosen by the leading operator Arabsat. We have maintained a preferred relationship
with Arabsat since launching the Arabsat-1A satellite in 1985. Furthermore, being
chosen for this new satellite launch right when Arabsat has announced an ambitious
deployment plan is a clear recognition of the top quality and excellence offered
by Arianespace's launch service. We consider it as a significant milestone, hopefully
strengthening our cooperation in the close future". | 
