Eutelsat and Futaris team up to deliver C-band satellite services to Alaska

Paris, Anchorage, 12 November 2015 – Futaris, Inc. announces it is investing in a new C-Band antenna for its Anchorage teleport to provide services in Alaska using Eutelsat Communications’ (NYSE Euronext Paris: ETL) new-generation EUTELSAT 115 West B satellite. This investment complements Futaris’s Colorado based antennas connected to EUTELSAT 115 West B, supporting Internet, broadcast, VoIP, and disaster recovery/business continuity solutions from the most advantageously positioned hub for Alaska, including the most remote locations.

EUTELSAT 115 West B is the first all-electric satellite of Eutelsat’s global fleet, with 24 C-band and 41 Ku-band equivalent transponders connected to specific service areas including Alaska, Canada, Mexico and South America. The satellite’s C-Band footprint offers exceptional power levels over Alaska to provide cost-effective capabilities for clients providing services that include video broadcasting, broadband access, cellular backhaul, VSAT solutions and social connectivity.

Patricio Northland, CEO of Eutelsat Americas, said: “We are excited to be working with Futaris and to enhance telecommunications in Alaska at a moment when many satellites serving the state are nearing the end of their life cycles. We look forward to working closely to provide best-in-class connectivity solutions to a broad range of customers in Alaska and beyond.”

“Futaris plans to access EUTELSAT 115 West B’s C-band capacity out of our two major teleports: Anchorage will primarily serve the Alaskan and Pacific Northwest U.S. market while our Sedalia, Colorado, facilities will allow us to reach the Western U.S. and the Gulf of Mexico as well and Central and South America,” said Futaris Acting President Valerie Pettit. “Both teleports are undergoing expansion to continue providingquality communications to our customers in the oil & gas, mining, energy, government, broadcast, tourism, and communication sectors.”

Futaris is continuing its build-out in the heart of mid-town Anchorage, positioned right next to the city’s Alaska Communications’ AKORN fiber vault. All of Futaris’ earth stations are designed with fully redundant fibre, power, and RF infrastructure armed for collocating commercial, government, and telco primary operations. Futaris’ full coverage of Alaska now includes locations such as the far-reaching Aleutian chain, South-east Alaska, and north of Barrow’s offshore. With EUTELSAT 115 West B, Futaris can provide direct or mesh connectivity in a single hop between Alaska and South America.