Sky agree new deal with satalite company

Originally Posted by jfman

SES have already committed to Astra 1 well into the 2040s

Source please.

[jfman]

https://www.thalesgroup.com/en/news-...satellites-ses

From our prime orbital neighborhood of 19.2 degrees East, the ASTRA 1P and ASTRA 1Q satellites will have the resiliency, reliability and redundancy that our video customers need, and will be able to deliver continued premium services well into 2040,” said Ruy Pinto, CTO of SES.

1Q will launch in 2027.

Originally Posted by jfman

https://www.thalesgroup.com/en/news-...satellites-ses



1Q will launch in 2027.

1Q was ordered in 2021, for a typical lead time of 5 or 6 years to launch. There is nothing on order for Astra 2 (28.2E) at present, which is where you point your Sky/Freesat dish. There is however time to order, build and launch to 28.2E before the middle of the next decade if there’s demand.

[jfman]

Originally Posted by Chris

1Q was ordered in 2021, for a typical lead time of 5 or 6 years to launch. There is nothing on order for Astra 2 (28.2E) at present, which is where you point your Sky/Freesat dish. There is however time to order, build and launch to 28.2E before the middle of the next decade if there’s demand.

Yes my full post alludes to that. An agreement with Sky with an unclear (or at least not stated) end date suggests to me there’s a pathway to a future satellite if desirable, and an exit strategy if not. The UK Government decision on the future of DTT will likely be one related piece (the channels there also being broadcast on satellite). SES ability to get other customers across Europe, the Middle East or North Africa potentially another.

If they thought Astra 1 will outlast Astra 2 - which it undoubtedly will - the move could be to relocate 1P to Astra 2 and replace it at 19.2E.