Intelsat 37e is located on a geostationary orbit at 18.0° W and provides coverage from Europe and the Middle East to Africa, the Asia-Pacific region and the Americas. The 18° W position is convenient for organizing transnational communication routes, corporate networks and television broadcasting. The satellite is part of Intelsat's global fleet and serves commercial operators, media companies and corporate clients.
History and Launch
The satellite was launched into orbit in 2016 by the Ariane 5 launch vehicle from the Kourou spaceport in French Guiana. Manufacturer - SSL (Space Systems Loral), SSL 1300 platform. This is one of the most common and proven platforms for heavy geostationary satellites. Design lifetime - 15 years.
Coverage Areas and Reception in Ukraine
The satellite forms several regional beams: European, Middle Eastern, African, Asia-Pacific and American. For subscribers in Ukraine, the European Ku-band beam is relevant. The antenna elevation angle above the horizon for different regions of the country ranges from 25° to 35°, so when choosing a dish installation location it is important to check for obstacles from the west. In practice, when adjusting a 0.85 m mirror in Kyiv, most problems arise precisely due to buildings and trees in the 215-225° sector.
| Beam | Coverage | Antenna Diameter |
|---|---|---|
| Ku - Europe | Ukraine, Poland, Romania, Hungary, Balkans | 60-90 cm |
| Ka - Europe | Central and Eastern Europe | from 1.2 m |
| C - Global | Wide coverage of Africa, Asia, Europe | from 1.8 m |
| Ku - Africa | North and Central Africa | 75-120 cm |
| Ku - Middle East | Arabian Peninsula, Levant | 75-90 cm |
For Kyiv and central regions, an antenna of 75-90 cm in the Ku-band with an LNB converter of 0.1-0.2 dB is sufficient. In western Ukraine the elevation angle is somewhat higher, so a 60-75 cm dish can be used there. In the east and south, due to a lower elevation angle, an antenna of 90 cm or larger is recommended. According to signal measurements in dense cloud conditions, the signal level margin on a 90-centimetre mirror is significantly better than on a 75 cm dish.
Transponder Capacity and Frequency Bands
On board are 14 active transponders providing 72 channels. Three frequency bands: C (3.4-4.2 GHz), Ku (10.7-12.75 GHz) and Ka (26.5-40 GHz). Transmission is mainly in DVB-S2 standard with QPSK and 8PSK modulation - this allows efficient use of bandwidth for HD and UHD broadcasts. C-band is oriented towards trunk channels and backup. Ku - for television broadcasting and VSAT networks. Ka - for broadband internet and corporate solutions.
Television Packages and Free-to-Air (FTA) Channels
Content on Intelsat 37e is predominantly commercial and corporate in nature. Among available services are broadcasts of European television channels in DVB-S2 format, corporate data transmission networks and sports event broadcasts. Some transponders are used for temporary channels (occasional use) during major sporting and cultural events. There are few FTA channels at this position. Most signals are encrypted with conditional access systems (CAS) and are intended for Intelsat's B2B clients.
Frequently Asked Questions
What antenna is needed to receive Intelsat 37e in Ukraine?
For Ku-band, a 75-90 cm dish is sufficient in most regions. For Ka-band, an antenna of 1.2 m or larger is required, for C-band - from 1.8 m.
At what angle should the antenna be pointed at 18.0° W?
For Kyiv, the azimuth is approximately 218-222° (south-west), elevation angle - about 28-30°. Exact values depend on the coordinates of the installation location.
Are there free FTA channels on Intelsat 37e?
The number of open channels is limited. The satellite is primarily oriented towards corporate clients and commercial broadcasting with restricted access.
What modulation standard is used on the transponders?
The main standard is DVB-S2 with QPSK and 8PSK modulation. Specific parameters (frequency, symbol rate, FEC) depend on the transponder and are available in the frequency table on the satellite page.