Eutelsat 115 West B is located at orbital position 115.0° W and is operated by French telecommunications company Eutelsat. All antenna beams are directed exclusively toward the American continent: the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean basin and a significant portion of South America. For Ukrainian and European viewers, this orbital position is geometrically unreachable — the horizon completely blocks it.
The spacecraft is built on the Space Systems/Loral 1300 platform and carries transponders in both C and Ku bands. This combination provides operators with flexibility: Ku for direct broadcasting to small subscriber dishes, C for backbone channels and corporate networks across the continent.
History and Launch
The satellite traces its lineage to Satmex 7. After Eutelsat acquired the assets of Mexican operator Satmex, the spacecraft received its current designation and continued operations at the same 115° W position — with no changes to its service area. Launch occurred on 11 December 2010 from Baikonur aboard a Proton-M launch vehicle. The SSL 1300 platform from Space Systems/Loral is designed for 15 years of active service and is considered one of the most reliable in the commercial geostationary industry.
Coverage Zones and Reception in Ukraine
The satellite's beams are shaped for specific regions of the American market. A brief overview of coverage areas:
| Beam | Coverage | Approximate Antenna Diameter |
|---|---|---|
| Ku-beam (North America) | USA, Canada, Mexico | 75–90 cm |
| Ku-beam (Latin America) | Central America, Caribbean basin, northern South America | 90–120 cm |
| C-beam (continental) | North and South America | 180–240 cm |
| Ukraine / Europe | Outside coverage area | Reception impossible |
Position 115° W lies beyond the horizon for any point in Europe. No antenna diameter will help here — this is a matter of geometry, not signal strength.
Transponder Capacity and Frequency Bands
The satellite operates simultaneously in two bands. Ku provides direct broadcasting to subscriber antennas in North and Central America. The C-band covers wide-area applications: corporate networks, backbone communication channels, signal distribution between terrestrial networks. DVB-S and DVB-S2 standards are supported with QPSK and 8PSK modulation — sufficient for efficient HD and SD broadcasting without excessive bandwidth consumption.
Television Packages and Free-to-Air (FTA) Channels
The primary specialization of Eutelsat 115 West B is broadcasting and data transmission for Latin American and Caribbean markets. Key areas of use include:
- Television packages for Spanish-language audiences in Latin America
- Broadband and corporate services for clients in North America
- Sports event broadcasts and regional content for the Caribbean basin
- Signal distribution between terrestrial broadcasting networks
The current list of active transponders and FTA channels is available in the corresponding section of the sathub database.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Eutelsat 115 West B signals be received in Ukraine?
No. Position 115° W lies beyond the geometric horizon for all of Europe. Increasing antenna diameter will not change this.
Which band does the satellite use?
Eutelsat 115 West B carries C and Ku-band transponders. Ku is oriented toward direct broadcasting, C toward backbone channels and broad zonal coverage of the American continent.
What platform is the spacecraft built on?
Space Systems/Loral 1300 (SSL 1300) — one of the most widely used commercial geostationary platforms with a design life of 15 years.
How does Eutelsat 115 West B differ from Satmex 7?
It is essentially the same spacecraft. After Eutelsat acquired the assets of Mexican operator Satmex, the satellite received a new name and continued operations at position 115° W, serving the same regions under the new brand.