Eutelsat 7C is located at orbital position 7.0° E and is operated by French operator Eutelsat. The satellite carries 198 television channels through 12 active Ku-band transponders, covering Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, North and Sub-Saharan Africa, and Central Asia.
For Ukrainian subscribers, position 7.0° E requires dish orientation towards the south-west. This position is adjacent to the classic 7° E cluster, where powerful European broadcasting resources are traditionally concentrated.
Launch and technical platform
The satellite was launched on 16 December 2015 aboard an Ariane 5 rocket from the Kourou spaceport in French Guiana. Manufacturer - Airbus Defence and Space, Eurostar 3000 platform. This is one of the most proven geostationary platforms in the industry: low failure rate and well-predicted degradation of onboard systems. Design lifetime - 15 years, meaning the satellite is expected to remain operational until approximately 2030-2031. NORAD ID - 44334.
Coverage areas and reception in Ukraine
The satellite generates several Ku-band beams. In practice, when setting up a 0.85 m dish in Kharkiv and Odesa, the signal level on the European beam is sufficient even under dense cloud conditions. For most regions of Ukraine, a 60 cm antenna is quite adequate.
| Beam | Coverage | Antenna diameter |
|---|---|---|
| European | Central and Eastern Europe, Ukraine | 60 cm |
| Middle Eastern | Middle East, Turkey | 75-90 cm |
| African | North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa | 90-120 cm |
| Central Asian | Central Asia | 90-120 cm |
Transponders and frequency band
12 active transponders operate in the 10.7-12.75 GHz band with horizontal and vertical polarisation. DVB-S and DVB-S2 standards are supported with QPSK and 8PSK modulation. Thanks to DVB-S2 and 8PSK, bandwidth is used more efficiently, allowing 198 channels of various formats - from SD to HD - to be accommodated without significant quality degradation on edge transponders.
Television packages and FTA channels
Eutelsat 7C carries European and African broadcasters as part of DTH services. News, entertainment, sports and thematic channels are primarily targeted at audiences in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Part of the capacity is allocated for corporate and commercial transmissions. Open FTA channels are available without conditional access - a standard DVB-S2 receiver and an antenna of the required diameter are sufficient.
Frequently asked questions
- What antenna is needed to receive Eutelsat 7C in Ukraine?
- In most of the country, a 60 cm antenna with south-west orientation is sufficient. In border coverage areas, it is better to use a 75 cm antenna for safety.
- How many channels are available on Eutelsat 7C?
- 198 channels through 12 active Ku-band transponders.
- What broadcast standard does Eutelsat 7C use?
- DVB-S and DVB-S2 with QPSK and 8PSK modulation - these standards are supported by the vast majority of modern digital receivers.
- Until what year will Eutelsat 7C operate?
- Design lifetime - 15 years from December 2015, expected to operate until approximately 2030-2031.