Space Systems/Loral has been awarded a $668.6 million contract by NBNCo of Australia to build two satellites to provide broadband facilities to remote areas of Australia, its coastal islands, external territories and maritime traffic close to the mainland.
The two satellites will be based on the LS 1300 satellite bus and will carry an all Ka-band communications payload.
"The two satellites, NBN Co 1A and 1B, are both Ka-band, high-throughput broadband satellites that use multiple spot beams in an advanced design that tailors capacity to Australia’s vastly distributed population," says the announcement.
The satellites are planned to be launched in 2015 and to have a lifetime of 15 years.
Phillip Hylands, Flight Global
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Artist rendering of NBN Co 1A and 1B. Source: http://ssloral.com
