AMC 23 → GE 23 → Eutelsat 172A

AMC 23 [Alcatel]

This series of satellites based on the new generation Spacebus-4000C3 platform has been originally ordered by GE-Americom as GE 1i, 2i, 3i, 4i and 2E. They were renamed to AMC after SES took over Americom and some were cancelled in this process.

AMC-13 was originally ordered as GE 2i. In early 2004, AMC 13 was transferred to Worldsat LLC, a new subsidiary of SES Americom as Worldsat 3. The original AMC-13 was to features 60 C-Band transponders, but when transferred to Worldsat, it was ordered to be changed to the hybrid C-/Ku-band payload with 18 C-band and 20 Ku-band transponders. In early 2005 it was renamed AMC 23.

In 2007 the satellite was spun-off from SES Americom to SAT-GE, when General Electric split off from SES. After this transaction, the satellite was renamed GE 23.

Eutelsat has announced in June 2012 the acquisiton of GE-23 satellite from GE-Satellite. The satellite is renamed to Eutelsat 172A and expands Eutelsat coverage to Asia-Pacific region and West Coast of United States of America. The satellite had at that time an estimated lifespan of 8.5 years.