Intelsat has ordered two geostationary (GEO) satellites with new “software-defined payloads” from Thales Alenia Space (TAS). The contract announced on 12 January outlined the two spacecraft, to be known as Intelsat 41 and 44, which are to be based on the new TAS Space Inspire platform built for medium-sized units. They are scheduled for launch in 2025 and will support Intelsat’s vision of its future software-defined global network.
These aren’t the first digital payload equipped satellites it has ordered, however. At the end of December 2020 it contracted with the other main European satellite manufacturer, Airbus DS, for two GEO spacecraft on its OneSat software-defined platform. These two units are expected to launch in 2023.