Eutelsat 117 West A is a geostationary satellite operated by Eutelsat at orbital position 117.0° W. The satellite covers the American continent from Canada to the southern latitudes of Argentina, including the United States, Mexico, the Caribbean basin and most of South America. It is widely known in professional circles by its former name Satmex 8 — until 2014, the satellite was owned by Mexican operator Satélites Mexicanos.
65 active transponders delivering over 300 channels simultaneously. For Spanish-language and English-language broadcasting in the American market, this is one of the central orbital resources. For Ukrainian and European viewers in general, the satellite has no practical significance — it is of interest only to operators of transatlantic channels and satellite communications researchers.
History and Launch
The satellite launched on 14 December 2014 from the Baikonur cosmodrome aboard the Proton-M launch vehicle. Manufacturer: SSL (Space Systems Loral), platform SSL 1300. This is one of the most widely used commercial platforms in the industry: high power, flexible resource redistribution among transponders depending on load. Design lifetime: 15 years.
Following Eutelsat's acquisition of Satmex in 2014, the orbital position 117° W was retained unchanged — it is strategically important for reaching Spanish-language audiences across both Americas. The satellite was simply renamed and placed under the management of the French operator.
Coverage Zones and Reception
The satellite is oriented exclusively towards the American continent. Within target zones in the Ku band, a 60–90 cm antenna is sufficient — verified in practice during installation setup in the United States and Mexico. The C band requires dishes from 180 cm and is used primarily for corporate channels and wide-area coverage.
| Beam | Coverage | Antenna Diameter |
|---|---|---|
| Ku North America | USA, Canada | 60–75 cm |
| Ku Mexico / Central | Mexico, Central America | 75–90 cm |
| Ku Caribbean | Caribbean basin | 75–90 cm |
| C-band Americas | North and South America | 180–240 cm |
| Ukraine / Europe | Outside coverage area | from 2400 cm (specialist stations) |
For Ukraine, the situation is unambiguous: the elevation angle to the horizon for most regions of the country is negative. No consumer antenna can remedy this. Reception is only possible at professional ground stations with dishes from 2.4 m — and only for technical or monitoring purposes.
Transponder Capacity and Frequency Bands
Onboard are 65 active transponders in the C and Ku frequency bands. The SSL 1300 platform allows flexible power redistribution among transponders depending on commercial load. Standards DVB-S and DVB-S2 are supported — accordingly, the satellite handles both standard definition and HD content equally well.
The C band here provides wide-area coverage and corporate communications. The Ku band is tailored for direct-to-home (DTH) broadcasting and regional television packages. Total capacity allows simultaneous transmission of over 300 television channels.
Television Packages and Free-to-Air (FTA) Channels
Eutelsat 117 West A concentrates a large array of Spanish-language and English-language content for American audiences. Main broadcasting directions:
- Hispasat HD — Spanish-language HD channels for Latin American audiences
- Mexican television channels — regional and national broadcasting
- Canadian television channels — English and French-language content
- American regional channels — local broadcasting from various states
- Caribbean television channels — broadcasting for Caribbean islands
Some channels are transmitted in free-to-air (FTA) mode — without conditional access card. Reception is possible with appropriate equipment and location within the coverage area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Eutelsat 117 West A be received in Ukraine?
No. The satellite at 117° W is physically unreachable for consumer reception in Ukraine — the elevation angle is negative. Specialized stations with antennas from 2.4 m are technically capable of receiving the signal, but this is not a consumer solution.
What was the previous name of this satellite?
Until 2014, the satellite was called Satmex 8 and was owned by Mexican operator Satélites Mexicanos. Following Eutelsat's acquisition, it was renamed Eutelsat 117 West A while retaining the orbital position.
Which frequency bands does the satellite use?
The C and Ku bands. The C band is for wide-area coverage and corporate clients, the Ku band is for DTH broadcasting and regional television packages.
How many transponders and channels are on the satellite?
According to sathub database — 65 active transponders, over 300 channels in DVB-S and DVB-S2 standards.