Boeing has been awarded a four-satellite contract, with options for four additional satellites, through a joint procurement by Asia Broadcast Satellite (ABS) and Satelites Mexicanos (Satmex). Financial details were not disclosed.

The first two satellites, ABS-3A and Satmex 7, are scheduled to be delivered together in late 2014 or early 2015. Details about the other two satellites, including names and launch plans, will be announced at a later date.

"This award advances Boeing's commitment to being a full-service satellite provider for both commercial and government customers," said Craig Cooning, vice president and general manager of Boeing Space and Intelligence Systems.

"Boeing invested two years in designing the 702SP 'small platform' satellite, which will operate in the 3- to 8-kilowatt power range. This is a natural evolution of our highly successful Boeing 702 product line and enables Boeing to continue its legacy of creating capable, low-risk, flexible designs at affordable prices."

The satellites, which will be built in Boeing's El Segundo factory, are designed to operate in a geostationary orbit. The 702SP is compatible with all major launch vehicles, including Falcon 9, Ariane 5, Sea Launch, Proton, Soyuz, Atlas 5 and Delta IV.

The 702SP is designed to be flexible and affordable, with next-generation technology that enables increased performance. Its avionics architecture simplifies operations and provides improved access to data for evaluation of the spacecraft's health.

"The 702SP satellite design underscores Boeing's promise to make our customer's mission our mission," Cooning said.

"We introduced the 702MP for 'medium power' in 2008, and we are excited at the opportunity to deliver the inaugural 702SP satellites to ABS and Satmex. We've listened to our customers, and we are responding with a solid product that will meet their mission requirements."

The new satellites will enable ABS to become a global satellite operator by expanding its current fleet to serve the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Ocean regions.

"Our shareholders have been extremely supportive of our global expansion plan, and this multi-satellite purchase agreement with Boeing for the Boeing 702SP is an ideal platform to support our expansion plans," said Thomas Choi, chief executive officer of ABS.

"We are proud to be partnered with Satmex for this joint procurement, which shows that regional operators can cooperate to achieve the same economies of scale previously enjoyed by the global operators.

"The new satellite, ABS-3A, will allow the extension of C- and Ku-band services into the Atlantic Ocean region for our existing customers, and will allow us to diversify our market base for our future growth," Choi added.

Satmex 7 is a hybrid satellite with both C- and Ku-band capacity that will serve Satmex's Latin America customers. The satellite will provide new expansion capacity that will be a catalyst for Satmex's aggressive growth plans over the next decade.

"We are very pleased to partner with Boeing and Asia Broadcast Satellite on this unique agreement, which provides Satmex with the flexibility to grow our satellite fleet," said Patricio Northland, chief executive officer of Satmex.

"The Boeing 702SP satellite is an optimal fit for Satmex's expansion strategy, offering an innovative design with capabilities that provide flexible service offerings to meet the growing demands of Satmex's prestigious customer portfolio."

earlier related report

Satelites Mexicanos, S.A. de C.V. Announcement: Satmex Orders New Satellite for Latin American Service

Mexico City, Mexico (SPX) Mar 15 – Satelites Mexicanos (Satmex) announces that it has entered into a Satellite Procurement Agreement with Boeing Satellite Systems International (Boeing) and a Launch Services Agreement with Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) for the manufacture and the launch, respectively, of the latest communications satellite in its fleet, Satmex 7.

The procurement of Satmex 7 is part of a global agreement in cooperation with Asia Broadcast Satellite (ABS) involving the manufacture and delivery of four firm and four optional satellites all at firm fixed prices.

The purchase and delivery of these satellites will be governed by a Master Procurement Agreement entered into among Boeing, ABS and Satmex and will be subject to separate satellite procurement agreements between Boeing and each of Satmex and ABS.

Both Satmex and ABS shall have the ability to convert the optional satellites to firm orders as they may determine in the future.

Satmex 7 is a hybrid satellite with both C- and Ku-band capacity, serving all of Satmex's Latin America customers. The satellite will provide new expansion capacity that will be a catalyst for Satmex's growth plans over the next decade.

The Boeing 702SP product line is a great fit for Satmex's expansion strategy, offering an innovative design with capabilities that provide flexible service offerings to meet the growing demands of Satmex's prestigious customer portfolio.

"We are very pleased to partner with both, Boeing and SpaceX, on these agreements, which provides Satmex with the flexibility to grow our satellite fleet," said Patricio Northland, Chief Executive Officer of Satmex.

"Satmex is positioned for a new era of growth with the anticipated launches of Satmex 8 in 2012, and with Satmex 7, our first satellite in the Boeing 702SP program, in late 2014 or early 2015.

The addition of Satmex 7 will expand our fleet to three satellites covering the Americas. Satmex 7 will be a cornerstone of the Satmex fleet designed to provide DTH and data services with increased power levels and good elevation angles from any location within its coverage.

These benefits will provide better performance to deliver media content directly to homes as well as broadband and other data services."

Concurrently with the satellite procurement agreements, ABS and Satmex have entered into a Bilateral Agreement which establishes rights and obligations between the parties with regard to the manufacture and launch of Satmex 7 and the other satellites in this global procurement.

The launch is scheduled for late 2014 or early 2015 from Cape Canaveral, Florida and will use SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket.