Intelsat and SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation have announced that the two companies have signed a definitive agreement to form a joint venture that will launch a new satellite with optimized C-band and high throughput Ku-band capacity to satisfy the growing mobility and broadband connectivity demands in the Asia-Pacific region.

To be known as Horizons 3e, the satellite is based on the Intelsat EpicNG high throughput design which, upon launch, will complete the global footprint of the Intelsat EpicNG next generation platform. The satellite will be stationed at the 169 degrees East orbital location with a launch expected in the second half of 2018.

Building upon a successful alliance between the two operators, the Horizons 3e satellite marks the fourth satellite to be owned jointly by JSAT and Intelsat, following Horizons-1 (launched in 2003); Horizons-2 (launched in 2007) and Intelsat 15/JCSAT-85 (launched in 2009).

With the most advanced digital payload on a commercial satellite, bandwidth flexibility and power portability, Horizons 3e will bring high performance, improved economics and simple access to the aeronautical and maritime mobility, cellular backhaul, corporate enterprise and government customers operating in the region.

"Today marks another milestone in our long history of collaboration with JSAT," stated Stephen Spengler, Chief Executive Officer, Intelsat.

"With Horizons 3e, we will introduce the Intelsat EpicNG platform to the Asia-Pacific region, completing our global high throughput footprint and enhancing our IntelsatOne Flex service platform.

"The scalability, power and flexibility of Intelsat EpicNG will provide commercial and governmental aeronautical and maritime services with unprecedented seamless, contiguous broadband coverage over the most widely trafficked routes from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

"In addition, the higher performance and improved economics of Intelsat EpicNG will enable fixed and mobile network operators to expand their networks and provide much needed broadband connectivity to the more remote communities of the region."

"Horizons 3e is a significant project for both Intelsat and JSAT," stated Shinji Takada, President and Chief Executive Officer, JSAT.

"This new state-of-art satellite will lead to the expansion of our next generation business in the Asia and Pacific region utilizing the HTS technology. Satellite communications demands for the region will definitely continue to grow and the project is essential for us to uptake of the growth demand for the region."

The formation of the JSAT/Intelsat venture features equal ownership of the satellite, which will be constructed over a 2.5 year period. Given the business construct, the program will not be considered part of Intelsat's capital expenditure program.