Türksat 4A

Türksat 4A [MELCO]

Turkey signed in March 2011 a $571 million deal with Japanese technology firm Mitsubishi Electric MELCO to procure and launch Turksat 4A and Turksat 4B.

The two satellites, both offering minimum 15-year service lives, will enable Turksat AS to offer telecommunication and direct TV broadcasting services throughout Turkey, as well as in Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Turksat 4A, which will be positioned at 42 degrees east longitude, will provide Ku-band high-power direct TV broadcasting channels and both C- and Ka-band communications channels.

Both satellites will be built on Mitsubishi Electric's DS-2000 satellite bus platform, a fully proven modular platform with the flexibility to handle a broad range of payload applications. As the ninth and tenth members of the DS2000 family of satellites, the Turksat 4A and 4B will further demonstrate the platform's well-established high reliability for in-orbit performance.

Turksat 4A and Turksat 4B will have a lifespan of 15 years. Turkey plans to place Turksat 4A into orbit by the last quarter of 2013. Turksat 4B will be launched in 2014.