Digital Battlespace

Airbus adds Intelsat General as Skynet partner

09th March 2017 - 16:30 by The Shephard News Team

Intelsat General has become the newest company to join Airbus Defence and Space's channel partner programme for Skynet 5 military satellite communication services, Airbus announced on 8 March.

Under a new channel partner agreement, Intelsat General will offer Skynet X-band and UHF services as part of its mobile and fly-away communications portfolio to the US government.

The partnership programme is designed to boost Skynet military satellite communication services to the Asia Pacific region. Since the move of Skynet 5A from 6° East to 95° East in September 2015, Airbus Defence and Space has signed nine channel partner agreements with companies in the region and in the US.

Skynet 5A was relocated to extend the X-band coverage and services from 178 West to 163 East, including the Indian Ocean and Western Pacific region. The Skynet network now offers global military coverage, expanding core service reach for the UK military and augmenting coalition capabilities in the region.

Richard Franklin, head of secure communications at Airbus Defence and Space, said: 'This new partnership will enable Intelsat General to offer Skynet services to their already strong existing customer base. The services will notably be using the newly relocated Skynet 5A satellite and enable users to operate in the Asia Pacific regions, and augment and compliment their existing services.'