SES SIRIUS
Encyclopedia
SES Sirius, formerly called Nordic Satellite AB (NSAB) is the owner and operator of the two Sirius
satellites, which provide the Nordic countries
and the Baltic states, with TV, radio, data and communications solutions. The company is owned by SES and the Swedish Space Corporation
.
The 2004 SES Annual Report states that 16.4 million homes received broadcast and broadband services from the Sirius system, 1.5 million from the satellites directly and another 14.9 million from cable networks distributing content via Sirius.
On April 2, 1989 NSAB's first satellite, the Aérospatiale
built Tele-X
, was launched on an Ariane 2
rocket from French Guiana. The Swedish Space Corporation (SSC) was contracted to operated the TELE-X system and in 1993 the company acquired the Swedish government's shares, becoming the sole owner.
In late 1993 NSAB acquired Marco Polo 1, a Hughes 376 geostationary communications satellite, from British Sky Broadcasting. Marco Polo 1 was built for and operated by British Satellite Broadcasting
. However following that company's collapse it merged with Sky Television to form BSkyB. In this "merger" Sky was the dominant force and their system of transponder lease from Astra satellites
was maintained. Marco Polo 1 (and its sister satellite) were gradually withdrawn from service.
In February 1994 Teracom
acquired a 50% share of NSAB. The same month Marco Polo 1 re-entered service as Sirius 1 at 5°E. In July 1994 NSAB agreed the purchase of Sirius 2 from Aérospatiale (later Alcatel Space). The satellite was successfully launched on November 12, 1997 by Ariane 4
rocket. Shortly after launch SES Astra
signed a lease agreement for all transponders on the satellite.
In 1996 Tele Danmark acquired a 25% share in NSAB from Teracom.
In May 1997 NSAB ordered a Hughes 376HP, the satellite was successfully launched on October 5, 1998, again by Ariane 4 rocket.
In October 2000 SES Astra acquired the shares of Tele Danmark and Teracom to become 50-50 joint owner with SSC. SES Astra increased their shareholding to 75% in December 2003, and renamed the company to SES Sirius on December 1, 2005. In January 2008, SES Astra further increased their shareholding in SES Sirius to 90%.
In March 2010 SES Astra took full control and in June 2010 the affiliate company was renamed SES Astra and the only fully operational satellite, Sirius 4, renamed Astra 4A.
SIRIUS (satellite)
Sirius was a constellation of communications satellites operated at 5°E in geostationary orbit by SES Sirius . They carried digital satellite television to the countries of Scandinavia, Baltic states, eastern Europe and Africa, including the Viasat pay TV system, along with several pay TV...
satellites, which provide the Nordic countries
Nordic countries
The Nordic countries make up a region in Northern Europe and the North Atlantic which consists of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden and their associated territories, the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland...
and the Baltic states, with TV, radio, data and communications solutions. The company is owned by SES and the Swedish Space Corporation
Swedish Space Corporation
The Swedish Space Corporation is a comprehensive space company covering the entire field, from the definition of innovative business concepts and space projects to the development, tests and operation of the systems....
.
The 2004 SES Annual Report states that 16.4 million homes received broadcast and broadband services from the Sirius system, 1.5 million from the satellites directly and another 14.9 million from cable networks distributing content via Sirius.
History
In 1982 the governments of Sweden and Norway formed NSAB as part of a wide ranging partnership for the purpose of "telecommunication satellite cooperation". In 1989 the two governments agreed to end their partnership, the Swedish government assumed full ownership with the acquisition of Norway's 15% share.On April 2, 1989 NSAB's first satellite, the Aérospatiale
Aérospatiale
Aérospatiale was a French aerospace manufacturer that built both civilian and military aircraft, rockets and satellites. It was originally known as Société Nationale Industrielle Aérospatiale...
built Tele-X
Tele-X
Tele-X was the first communications satellite serving the Nordic countries. It was launched with an Ariane 2 rocket from Kourou, French Guyana, on April 2, 1989. On January 16, 1998, its fuel was exhausted and it was moved into graveyard orbit...
, was launched on an Ariane 2
Ariane 2
Ariane 2 was a European expendable carrier rocket, which was used for six launches between 1986 and 1989. It was a member of the Ariane family of rockets, and was produced by Aérospatiale in France....
rocket from French Guiana. The Swedish Space Corporation (SSC) was contracted to operated the TELE-X system and in 1993 the company acquired the Swedish government's shares, becoming the sole owner.
In late 1993 NSAB acquired Marco Polo 1, a Hughes 376 geostationary communications satellite, from British Sky Broadcasting. Marco Polo 1 was built for and operated by British Satellite Broadcasting
British Satellite Broadcasting
British Satellite Broadcasting was a British television company which provided direct broadcast satellite television services to the United Kingdom...
. However following that company's collapse it merged with Sky Television to form BSkyB. In this "merger" Sky was the dominant force and their system of transponder lease from Astra satellites
SES Astra
Astra is the name for the geostationary communication satellites, both individually and as a group, which are owned and operated by SES S.A., a global satellite operator based in Betzdorf, in eastern Luxembourg. The name is sometimes also used to describe the channels broadcasting from these...
was maintained. Marco Polo 1 (and its sister satellite) were gradually withdrawn from service.
In February 1994 Teracom
Teracom
Teracom is a terrestrial broadcast transmission service company owned by the Swedish Government. Teracom owns all Swedish broadcast transmission sites, and distributes all terrestrial radio and TV channels, private as well as public-service, analogue as well as digital.Teracom Components is a...
acquired a 50% share of NSAB. The same month Marco Polo 1 re-entered service as Sirius 1 at 5°E. In July 1994 NSAB agreed the purchase of Sirius 2 from Aérospatiale (later Alcatel Space). The satellite was successfully launched on November 12, 1997 by Ariane 4
Ariane 4
Ariane 4 was an expendable launch system, designed by the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales and manufactured and marketed by its subsidiary Arianespace. Ariane 4 was justly known as the ‘workhorse’ of the Ariane family. Since its first flight on 15 June 1988 until the last, on 15 February 2003, it...
rocket. Shortly after launch SES Astra
SES Astra
Astra is the name for the geostationary communication satellites, both individually and as a group, which are owned and operated by SES S.A., a global satellite operator based in Betzdorf, in eastern Luxembourg. The name is sometimes also used to describe the channels broadcasting from these...
signed a lease agreement for all transponders on the satellite.
In 1996 Tele Danmark acquired a 25% share in NSAB from Teracom.
In May 1997 NSAB ordered a Hughes 376HP, the satellite was successfully launched on October 5, 1998, again by Ariane 4 rocket.
In October 2000 SES Astra acquired the shares of Tele Danmark and Teracom to become 50-50 joint owner with SSC. SES Astra increased their shareholding to 75% in December 2003, and renamed the company to SES Sirius on December 1, 2005. In January 2008, SES Astra further increased their shareholding in SES Sirius to 90%.
In March 2010 SES Astra took full control and in June 2010 the affiliate company was renamed SES Astra and the only fully operational satellite, Sirius 4, renamed Astra 4A.
External links
- SES Sirius - Official site
- SES Astra - Official site