Eutelsat 21B is a geostationary satellite operated by French operator Eutelsat at orbital position 21.0° E. Prior to renaming, the satellite was designated W6A (Eutelsat W6A). The name change occurred as part of Eutelsat's brand unification strategy based on orbital positions - a practice consistently applied across its entire fleet.
The satellite serves both television DTH broadcasting and corporate telecommunications services. Coverage extends from the Atlantic coast of Europe to Western Asia. For Ukrainian subscribers, position 21.0° E is accessible with antenna orientation towards the southwest.
Launch and technical platform
Eutelsat 21B was launched to geostationary orbit in 2012 by Proton-M launch vehicle from Baikonur Cosmodrome. The platform is SSL 1300, manufactured by Space Systems Loral (now Orbital ATK), one of the most widely used commercial satellite platforms in its class. The design lifetime is 15 years. The satellite's NORAD ID is 38992, and orbital position can be tracked in public catalogues.
Coverage zones and reception in Ukraine
The satellite generates several beams. Central Ukraine falls within the reliable reception zone, while eastern and southern regions are on the periphery of the main European beam - this directly affects antenna diameter selection.
| Beam / Region | Coverage | Recommended antenna diameter |
|---|---|---|
| Main European beam | Central and Eastern Europe, Ukraine | 60-75 cm |
| Extended European beam | Western Ukraine, Poland, Romania | 60 cm |
| Eastern and southern Ukraine | Kharkiv, Odesa, Dnipro | 75-90 cm |
| Middle East / North Africa | Egypt, Turkey, Lebanon | 90-120 cm |
In practice, when setting up a 0.75 m dish in Kyiv, signal level on most transponders is stable even under heavy cloud conditions. For Vinnytsia and Zhytomyr, 60 cm is quite sufficient. In the east - Kharkiv, Dnipro - it is better to use 90 cm right away: the signal margin significantly reduces outages during heavy rain.
Transponder capacity and frequency bands
Eutelsat 21B is equipped exclusively with Ku-band transponders. The sathub database registers 35 active transponders. Broadcasting is conducted in DVB-S2 standard with QPSK and 8PSK modulation - this ensures efficient bandwidth utilization and HD content support without excessive capacity consumption. Symbol rates vary depending on the operator and package type. Polarization is horizontal (H) and vertical (V).
Most modern receivers support DVB-S2 with both modulation types without additional configuration. Compatibility issues with current equipment are virtually non-existent.
Television packages and open channels (FTA)
Over 80 television channels are broadcast via Eutelsat 21B. These include encrypted DTH packages from various European broadcasters and open FTA channels accessible without an access card. Corporate clients use the satellite's capacity for data transmission, video conferencing and broadband services in regions with limited terrestrial infrastructure. A complete up-to-date list of transponders and channels with filtering by polarization and frequency is available in the sathub database.
Frequently asked questions
- What antenna is needed to receive Eutelsat 21B in Kyiv?
- For Kyiv, an offset dish with a diameter of 60-75 cm with a Ku-band converter (LNB 9.75/10.6 GHz) is sufficient. The antenna should be oriented towards the southwest.
- Are there open FTA channels on Eutelsat 21B?
- Yes, some transponders contain open FTA channels accessible without an access card. The current list is in the transponder table on this page.
- What was the previous designation of the Eutelsat 21B satellite?
- Prior to renaming, the satellite was designated Eutelsat W6A. The name change occurred as part of Eutelsat's brand unification strategy based on orbital positions.
- What broadcasting standard is used on Eutelsat 21B?
- The primary standard is DVB-S2 with QPSK and 8PSK modulation. Most modern receivers support it without additional configuration.