Ciel Satellite announced today that Alcatel Alenia Space has been chosen to construct a new spacecraft to be known as Ciel-2. The geosynchronous satellite will be operated by Ciel from 129 degrees West and deliver services throughout North America.
Alcatel will build the Spacebus 4000 C4 spacecraft based on proven technology that has been utilized in four successfully deployed satellites. The C4 will the largest Spacebus class satellite ever built. A number of innovations will also complement the design; the all Ku-band satellite will feature high frequency re-use and both regional and spot beams. The Ciel-2 satellite is scheduled to launch in late 2008 and to operate for at least 16 years. Ciel Satellite was awarded the license for 129 degrees West from Industry Canada in October 2004.
“Ciel is pleased to begin construction of the first new satellite in its fleet — one for which we have high expectations for this spacecraft. Alcatel is recognized as a world-class satellite manufacturer and we expect Ciel-2 to deliver outstanding performance in Canada and elsewhere in North America,” said Kevin Smyth, CEO, Ciel Satellite.
“Ciel-2 will be the first of many spacecraft we hope to bring into service to the benefit of Canadian and North American customers, and we are pleased to note that Canadian subcontractors, including ComDev, will be participating in this satellite’s construction,” said Dave Lewis, President and COO, Ciel Satellite.
Pascale Sourisse, President and CEO, Alcatel Alenia Space, added, “The demands from the Ciel procurement team were ambitious and rigorous, so we are doubly delighted to have earned this contract award for Ciel-2.”
About Ciel Satellite
Ciel Satellite LP is Canada’s independent satellite facilities operator. Ciel was founded in 2004, received preliminary authorization to operate a satellite at 129 degrees West that same year, and began commercial operations in August 2005. The partners and shareholders in the Ciel venture are: BPC Telecommunications Corporation, owned by OMERS, one of Canada’s largest pension funds, with more than $40 billion in assets; Ottawa-based Smyth Satellite Holdings Ltd., a Canadian satellite and telecommunications company established by Kevin Smyth and Gerry Wall, Ph.D.; 620582 NB Ltd., an investment company led by Brian Neill, the founder and former chairman of Star Choice Communications Inc.; and SES GLOBAL S.A. (Euronext Paris, and Luxembourg stock exchanges: SESG) which owns SES ASTRA in Europe, and SES AMERICOM in the US, and holds strategic investments in AsiaSat in Asia, Ciel in Canada, NSAB in Europe, and Star One in Latin America.
