Amazonas 3 photo is courtesy of SS/L

...HISPASAT Group, has arrived at the European Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, where it will be launched aboard an Ariane 5 launch vehicle by Arianespace. Amazonas 3, which was completed and delivered ahead of schedule, includes the first Ka-band payload for broadband service in Latin America.

Amazonas 3 is designed to provide a wide range of telecommunications services including DTH, corporate fixed and mobile telephone networks, and broadband in the Americas, Europe, and North Africa. When launched, the satellite will be positioned at the orbital location of 61 degrees West longitude. Amazonas 3 has 33 Ku- and 19 C-band transponders, and 9 Ka-band spot beams. The satellite is based on the highly reliable SSL 1300 space-proven platform, which provides the flexibility to support a broad range of applications and technology advances. The spacecraft is designed to deliver service for 15 years or more.