Thor 5 maintains orbital position 1.0° W and is operated by Norwegian Telenor Satellite Broadcasting (TSBc). The primary market is the Scandinavian and Baltic DTH segment: 18 active Ku-band transponders, 186 television channels. For viewers in Central and Eastern Europe, the position is peripheral but entirely accessible — provided the antenna and converter are properly selected.
Launch and Platform
The satellite launched on 22 June 2003 aboard a Proton-M launch vehicle from Baikonur. Built on the Space Systems/Loral 1300 platform — a reliable commercial foundation with a design life of 15 years. Thor 5 replaced Thor 2R and significantly expanded Telenor's capabilities in direct satellite broadcasting for Northern Europe. The SSL-1300 platform ensures stable transponder power and precise orbital position maintenance throughout the satellite's operational lifetime.
Coverage Zones and Reception in Ukraine
Thor 5 beams are shaped for Scandinavian, Baltic and Central European markets. Ukraine falls at the edge of the coverage zone — which directly affects the minimum required antenna diameter.
| Beam | Primary Coverage | Antenna Diameter (Ukraine) |
|---|---|---|
| Scandinavian | Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland | from 1.2 m |
| Baltic | Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania | 90 cm – 1.2 m |
| Central European | Poland, Germany, Central Europe | 90 cm – 1.2 m |
| Pan-European | Wide Europe (weak signal in the east) | from 1.2 m |
For Kyiv and central regions, the optimal diameter is 1.0–1.2 m. In western parts of the country, with a quality low-noise converter, 90 cm is sufficient. In practice, when tuning a 0.85 m dish in Lviv, signal level on the Central European beam remains stable even with light cloud cover. Southern and eastern regions are already at the extreme edge of coverage: even a 1.2 m antenna does not guarantee stable reception without precise azimuthal alignment.
Transponders and Frequency Bands
Thor 5 operates exclusively in the Ku-band. All 18 transponders use linear horizontal or vertical polarisation. Broadcasting is conducted in DVB-S and DVB-S2 standards with QPSK and 8PSK modulation — depending on the specific transponder. DVB-S2 allows operators to use bandwidth more efficiently: more HD channels on the same transponder capacity. Reception requires a universal Ku-band converter with local oscillator frequency of 9750/10600 MHz.
Television Packages and Free-to-Air Channels
The majority of Thor 5 broadcasting is aimed at Scandinavian audiences. DTH packages from Telenor for Norway and Sweden, regional broadcasters of Northern Europe, pan-European channels — this is the main content of the position. Among 186 channels there are both encrypted packages (Conax, Nagravision) and free-to-air FTA channels from Scandinavian and Baltic broadcasters. Encrypted content requires an access card or CI module; FTA channels are available on any DVB-S/S2 receiver without additional equipment.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What antenna is needed to receive Thor 5 in Kyiv?
- For stable reception, a diameter of 1.0–1.2 m with a quality Ku-band converter is recommended. Smaller sizes are only possible under ideal atmospheric conditions — when measuring signal under dense cloud cover, the level drops critically even on a 1.0 m dish.
- Are there free-to-air FTA channels on Thor 5?
- Yes. Some transponders contain open channels from Scandinavian and Baltic broadcasters — without an access card, on any DVB-S/S2 receiver.
- What broadcasting standard does Thor 5 support?
- DVB-S and DVB-S2 with QPSK and 8PSK modulation. To receive DVB-S2, a compatible receiver with support for this standard is required.
- Can Thor 5 be combined with other satellites on one antenna?
- Position 1.0° W is adjacent to Intelsat 10-02 at 0.8° W. Both satellites can be received on one antenna without refocusing — via a multi-feed or motorised mount.