Intelsat announced today that at 2:44 a.m. EDT the Intelsat 905 satellite was successfully launched aboard an Ariane 44L vehicle. The satellite is expected to be operational in July.

The Intelsat 905 launch is the fifth in a nine-satellite campaign to replace and significantly add to existing capacity by the end of 2003. The 905 satellite will be deployed at 335.5E and will offer capacity for telephony, corporate networks, Internet, video and hybrid space/terrestrial solutions to customers on its 72 C-band and 22 Ku-band transponders (measured in 36 MHz equivalent units). The satellite will provide high power Ku-band spot beam coverage for Western Europe and much of North America and additional C-band capacity to customers in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, North America and South America. 

Intelsat Ltd CEO Conny Kullman stated: "The successful launch of the Intelsat 905 to 335.5E marks not only the one year anniversary of the beginning of our current launch campaign, but also an historic anniversary for Intelsat. The 335.5E orbital slot, our first location, also served as the location of our first satellite, Early Bird. We expect that the Intelsat 905 will follow in the footsteps of its predecessors by providing reliable and powerful communications solutions to our customers for years to come. "

The Intelsat 603 currently holds the 335.5E orbital slot but will be moved to 178E to create a new satellite role at that location.

Intelsat's next launch, the Intelsat 906 satellite, is scheduled to take place from French Guiana, aboard an Ariane 44L launch vehicle, during the third quarter of this year.