Eutelsat W3A → Eutelsat 7A

Eutelsat W3A [Astrium]

Eutelsat W3A, due for launch in 2003, is the most powerful satellite ordered to date by the Paris-based satellite communications company Eutelsat. It will provide a full range of telecommunications applications including digital DVB broadcasting, multimedia, broadband access and pay-per-use bandwidth for corporate networks over a large zone covering Europe and Africa, for a minimum of 12 years. The payload will allow enhanced operational flexibility as compared to previous generations of communications satellites well as multiple regional coverages for or regional or intra-regional connectivity. With 40 transponders and a frequency plan supporting up to 58 channels, W3A is almost doubling the capacity available at 7 degrees East.

Astrium is prime contractor for Eutelsat W3A, for design and manufacture of the satellite and will supply both the platform (based on the Eurostar-3000S version of Astrium's Eurostar series) and the payload.

In December 2011 Eutelsat announced, that their satellite assets will be renamed under a unified brand name effective from March 2012. This satellite will become Eutelsat 7A.