SES relocates AMC-3 satellite to serve LatAm markets

Satellite operator SES has announced that the AMC-3 satellite is being relocated from its former location of 87 degrees West to 67 degrees West to improve coverage of Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. The 67 degrees West orbital position offers an extensive Ku-band satellite frequency range and better viewing angles for coverage of the Americas and the Caribbean. The drift was initiated in January and the satellite is scheduled to arrive at its new orbital location on 24 February. AMC-3 was launched in 1997 into the orbital location of 87 degrees West. Built by Lockheed Martin, the spacecraft carries Ku- as well as C-band transponders. AMC-3 has fuel to operate in geostationary orbit until 2017. At 67 degrees West, AMC-3 will be co-located with the AMC-4 satellite, which has been providing services over Latin America and the Caribbean since its deployment at this position in 2010. Together, AMC-3 and AMC-4 will be able to offer 28 commercially available Ku-band transponders (36 MHz equivalents) at 67 degrees West.