BSAT-4a will be launched by an Ariane 5 in late 2017 from the Guiana Space Center, Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, as part of a turnkey contract between California-based manufacturer SSL and the Japanese operator B-SAT.

Since the creation of B-SAT, Arianespace has launched all of its satellites. BSAT-4a will be the 30th commercial geostationary satellite launch contract awarded to Arianespace in Japan.

Built by SSL using a 1300 platform, the satellite is fitted with 24 Ku-band transponders. BSAT-4a will weigh about 3,500 kg at launch and offers a design life exceeding 15 years. It will be positioned in geostationary orbit at 110 degrees East.

BSAT-4a will provide digital broadcast services in Japan, with the same service footprint as its predecessor, BSAT-3a. It will also deliver 4K/8K Ultra-HD TV services to all of Japan.

Following the signature of this contract, Arianespace Chairman and CEO Stéphane Israël said: “We would like to thank SSL and B-SAT for placing their trust in us. Our selection reflects the exceptional long-standing partnership between Arianespace, SSL, manufacturer of nine upcoming Ariane 5 GTO launches, and the Japanese operator B-SAT, which has chosen us to carry out all its launches. We are very proud and honored to have been chosen once again to serve the Japanese market, and more specifically to help meet B-SAT’s objectives.”

About Arianespace

Arianespace is the world’s leading satellite launch company. Founded in 1980, Arianespace deploys a family of three launchers, Ariane, Soyuz and Vega, to meet the needs of both commercial and government customers, and has performed over 250 launches to date. Backed by its 20 shareholders and the European Space Agency, Arianespace is the only company in the world capable of launching all types of payloads into all orbits, from the Guiana Space Center in French Guiana. As of September 14, 2015, Arianespace had carried out 225 Ariane launches, 38 Soyuz launches (12 at the Guiana Space Center and 26 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, via Starsem) and five Vega launches. Arianespace is headquartered in Evry, near Paris, and has a facility at the Guiana Space Center, plus local offices in Washington D.C., Tokyo and Singapore.