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Johannesburg - The Intelsat New Dawn satellite, the first African private sector communications satellite, remains on track for launch later on Wednesday, satellite services provider Intelsat SA said.
Initially announced in December 2008, the $250m Intelsat New Dawn project is to launch aboard an Ariane 5 rocket from the Arianespace Launch Complex in Kourou, French Guiana, at about 21:45 GMT.
Intelsat said the satellite continued to attract new business as SkyeVine, a joint venture company between Ellies Holdings Limited and Q-KON, said it planned to use capacity on Intelsat New Dawn to provide affordable broadband internet services to small businesses and domestic and public service entities.
Separately, Intelsat also announced that it had signed a contract to provide services to the US Department of Defence for 36 MHz transponder services for one year, with options for an additional four one-year contracts.
The Intelsat New Dawn satellite is owned by a joint venture between Intelsat and a consortium led by Convergence Partners.
The satellite's 28 C-band and 24 Ku-band 36 MHz transponder units were designed specifically to supply critical communications infrastructure for African customers who had experienced exceptional growth along with the development of the region.
The satellite would be stationed at 32.8º East longitude, and would be integrated with Intelsat's global satellite fleet.
The Intelsat New Dawn project was funded about 15% with equity and 85% with debt. African institutions will provide about 90% of the total financing required for the joint venture and Intelsat would contribute the balance.
Nedbank Capital arranged the non-recourse debt financing.
A consortium of lenders including Nedbank Group [JSE:NED], the Industrial Development Corporation and the African Development Bank will provide the debt funding.
The equity was provided by Intelsat (74.9%) and the Convergence Partners-led group (25.1%), which also includes Altirah Telecoms and the not-for-profit Convergence Partners Foundation.
Initially announced in December 2008, the $250m Intelsat New Dawn project is to launch aboard an Ariane 5 rocket from the Arianespace Launch Complex in Kourou, French Guiana, at about 21:45 GMT.
Intelsat said the satellite continued to attract new business as SkyeVine, a joint venture company between Ellies Holdings Limited and Q-KON, said it planned to use capacity on Intelsat New Dawn to provide affordable broadband internet services to small businesses and domestic and public service entities.
Separately, Intelsat also announced that it had signed a contract to provide services to the US Department of Defence for 36 MHz transponder services for one year, with options for an additional four one-year contracts.
The Intelsat New Dawn satellite is owned by a joint venture between Intelsat and a consortium led by Convergence Partners.
The satellite's 28 C-band and 24 Ku-band 36 MHz transponder units were designed specifically to supply critical communications infrastructure for African customers who had experienced exceptional growth along with the development of the region.
The satellite would be stationed at 32.8º East longitude, and would be integrated with Intelsat's global satellite fleet.
The Intelsat New Dawn project was funded about 15% with equity and 85% with debt. African institutions will provide about 90% of the total financing required for the joint venture and Intelsat would contribute the balance.
Nedbank Capital arranged the non-recourse debt financing.
A consortium of lenders including Nedbank Group [JSE:NED], the Industrial Development Corporation and the African Development Bank will provide the debt funding.
The equity was provided by Intelsat (74.9%) and the Convergence Partners-led group (25.1%), which also includes Altirah Telecoms and the not-for-profit Convergence Partners Foundation.
